CM directs officials to clear storm water drain encroachments

With the city witnessing flooding in several parts due to heavy incessant rains last week, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today ordered officials to clear encroachments on storm water drains from tomorrow.
The Chief Minister chaired a meeting of officials to review the work being undertaken after the rains and measures that are needed to be taken in the future.
Ordering Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (City civic body) Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad to clear all 1130 identified encroachments in the city, he also directed police to provide adequate security, a state government release said.
Incessant rains last week had inundated streets, crippling normal life in several parts of the city.

Overflowing lakes and drainage systems coupled with uprooted trees compounded the people's woes. Low lying areas, particularly Kodichikkanahalli and Bilekahalli, where water entered houses, were worst affected.
Siddaramaih also directed BBMP to strengthen its legal cell and work towards vacating stay orders by courts against any anti-encroachment drives, noting that public interest should be the utmost priority.

Reminding officials that their salaries are from tax paid by public, he directed officials to work for public good.
The Chief Minister also directed the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry and submit a sector wise report in three days about the role of BBMP's planning department that has allegedly given official clearances to blueprints of projects that have come up by encroaching storm water drains.

Stating that there was lack of coordination between various departments, he asked the Chief Secretary to conduct coordination meetings to rectify the issues.