How alert Bengaluru resident prevented late-night flooding in Kasturinagar
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Bengaluru: Timely intervention by a resident at 1.40am Monday helped drain out stagnant floodwater in Kasturinagar, where around 30 houses were inundated after heavy rain Sunday night.
Three main roads — I Main, IA Main and II Main Road — in the east Bengaluru locality were partially submerged that night, leaving cars damaged, sump water contaminated and residents struggling to manage the aftermath. The root of the flooding was traced to a blocked inlet connected to the northern portion of Benniganahalli lake.
Abijith MS, who leads the youth wing of Kasturinagar Welfare Association, rushed out around 11pm after his house was flooded.
On inspecting the stormwater drain, he found a massive pile of mud dumped near the inlet, blocking flow of rainwater into the lake.
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One of the tracks of the suburban rail project passes between northern and southern parts of Benniganahalli lake.
"I reached out to one of the site staffers from the railways, and they got the pile of silt removed, helping rainwater to flow into the lake. Within 30 to 40 minutes, water level drastically reduced and houses haven't flooded during Monday and Tuesday's rain."
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While the immediate cause was the blocked inlet, residents and civic groups say the long-standing problem is lack of desilting on the northern side of the lake. According to the welfare association, multiple letters have been submitted to BBMP and the lakes department over the years — including two in the past month. — BBMP chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao visited the area earlier this year and directed officials to take up the work.
Nora Menezes, president of Kasturinagar Welfare Association, said: "While desilting work may take time, we at least want the pathway to be cleared."
According to a BBMP engineer, blockage caused by the railways was the direct trigger this time. But on the desilting issue, a larger bureaucratic confusion over land ownership has stalled progress. "According to our records, that part of the land where the lake is situated falls under the railways. However, just two days ago, the divisional railway manager submitted a survey claiming the land falls under BBMP. We are in the process of cross-verifying ownership," the engineer said.
"Even if the lake land doesn't fall under BBMP, we are open to taking up desilting work, provided the railways give us a no-objection certificate and official approval," the engineer added.
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