Monsoon haunts Bangalore again

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Bangalore has quickly morphed into the city with several civic problems - if it's not the traffic, then it's the terrible roads. While most of Bangalore eagerly waits for the rains every year, there are residential areas that wish the rain would just go away. In areas like Puttenhalli, a residential locality in south Bangalore, the rains spell trouble every year. Over 200 residents in Puttenhalli have no fond memories of monsoon, that's because every monsoon not only is there four feet of water on the roads but water also gushes into the houses. The problem is simple. Because all houses in this area are in the low-lying area, where when it rains water not only breaks open from the drains but also from a nearby lake. Out of over 300 lakes in Bangalore, only 35 remain; everything else has been encroached upon and it is a problem, which leads to flooding nearby localities. Efforts by the authorities to demolish constructions on storm drains have had only partial success. Residents like Uma move out of their home during the rains every time it rains and then come back home to find at least four feet of water, which includes water from blocked drains. ''Every year we stay out of the house, go to a relatives house. We keep our appliances like fridge and TV on top of the beds. Children also suffer, they can't go out of the house to play,'' said Uma Murthy. With the monsoon just a few days away, one of the first problems Karnataka's new chief minister is addressing are areas prone to flooding during the rains. ''It is our first priority. We will look into the problem and make sure people do not suffer too much,'' said BS Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister, Karnataka. But with the clock ticking and time running out before the rains hit, it is yet to be seen whether the new government will manage to live up to its promises.

 

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