Latest news with #MaheshwarRao
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
BBMP steps up efforts for glitch-free SC survey
BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao held a review meeting regarding the ongoing Comprehensive Caste Survey to identify Scheduled Caste members. Rao said that since the beginning of the Survey from May, 8,215 enumerators visited 1,31,730 SC houses and have covered 5,11,594 SC members. He also asked zonal officials to deploy additional enumerators in areas with high population of Scheduled Castes and complete the survey work quickly, especially in the Eastern Zone. Addressing a review meeting held in the Eastern Zone on Tuesday on the progress of the Scheduled Caste/Original Caste Comprehensive Survey, the palike chief told the enumerators to be in touch with the community leaders and representatives in areas with high populations of Scheduled Castes in the Eastern Zone and instructed them to complete the survey work at the earliest.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Climate
- Hindustan Times
Resolve issues in flood-prone areas: Maheshwar Rao
Bengaluru, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao on Monday directed officials to resolve issues in flood-prone areas within BBMP limits. Of the 210 flood-prone areas identified across the city, issues at 166 locations have already been resolved, Rao added. Speaking at a meeting held at the BBMP head office, he instructed officials from every zone to actively engage in operations during the monsoon season. He emphasised the need to ensure smooth water flow in stormwater drains during the rainy season. The stormwater drain department must regularly carry out desilting and ensure the cleanliness of the drains. In areas where stormwater drains lack Reinforced Cement Concrete retaining walls, he directed officials to take necessary precautions to prevent waterlogging. Zonal commissioners have been tasked with verifying and confirming the resolution of flood-prone areas. He further instructed them to implement immediate interim measures for the remaining 44 locations and work towards permanent solutions. Noting that the traffic police department has provided a list of locations where stagnant water on roads causes heavy traffic during rains, Rao suggested that appropriate measures be taken to prevent water accumulation at these spots. 'Continuous desilting and cleaning of shoulder drains should also be carried out,' he added. As part of flood mitigation efforts, sluice gates have already been installed in 13 of the 183 lakes within BBMP limits, said the chief commissioner. 'In lakes with sluice gates, water levels should be reduced in advance to accommodate rainwater. Plans must be prepared to gradually install sluice gates in the remaining lakes and to desilt those that have not yet been cleaned,' he said. During heavy rains accompanied by strong winds, teams must remain ready to clear fallen trees and branches immediately, he instructed. Officials have also been directed to identify and remove dry or hazardous trees and branches to prevent accidents. Currently, waste is being transferred from auto tippers to compactors at roadside transfer points. These transfer points must be relocated to more suitable areas, he added. Officials have been asked to identify BBMP-owned or alternative land to shift these operations away from roadsides. Observing that even addressing minor footpath issues can greatly enhance pedestrian mobility, Rao instructed zonal officials to take up the task. Regarding the comprehensive survey of Scheduled Castes, zonal commissioners from all eight BBMP zones have been tasked with overseeing the process. They have been directed to ensure that the survey is completed promptly and effectively. Special Commissioners Muneesh Moudgil, K. Harish Kumar, Suralkar Vikas Kishor, Avinash Menon Rajendran, and Preeti Gehlot also attended the meeting. Zonal Commissioners Satish, Ramya, Digvijay Bodke, Karigowda, Snehal, and Ramesh, along with all Joint Commissioners, the Engineer-in-Chief, all Chief Engineers, and other officials concerned, were present.
New Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
SWD project: BBMP secures D1,600 crore World Bank loan
BENGALURU: After the deluge comes a sliver of good news. Chief Commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Maheshwar Rao on Thursday said that a loan amount of Rs 1,600 crore has been approved by World Bank and now the BBMP will start the works related to the Storm Water Drain (SWD) project. The loan was sought and approved for the specific purpose and the plan is to ensure the stormwater is taken out from Bengaluru City without any flooding and reaches the river network in the city outskirts, he said. The Chief Commissioner also said a special meeting will be held with the Revenue Department Secretary regarding removal of encroachment of SWDs, which is a continuous process and the palike is doing it. Further, BBMP Engineer-In-Chief and in-charge Stormwater Drains, BS Prahallad said, 173.9 kilometres of stormwater drain in the city outskirts remained unlinked. 'We will have to concrete the stormwater drain and construct a retaining wall. The gaps will be covered. Tender bids were called and the same was placed before the monitoring committee, financial bids will be called shortly and work will be taken up,' he said. Meanwhile, the revenue department also has submitted a report to BBMP after surveying the Rajakaluve. After deploying surveyors, it has confirmed encroachment of 416 SWDs across the City and has given the report to BBMP to take up further action like eviction and reclamation of the storm water drains. The revenue department had received 1,023 complaints two years ago, out of which, district administration found encroachments on 416 SWDs. The Special Deputy Commissioner of Revenue Department stated that 607 encroachment cases are pending and the order for the same is expected to be completed and shared with the municipality soon. The revenue officials have tossed the ball in to the municipality's court in 416 cases and said, it is up to the municipal authority to serve eviction notice, take police action and clear the encroachments on stormwater drains. 173.9 km of stormwater drain in the city outskirts remain unlinked BBMP to concrete stormwater drain and construct a retaining wall 416 encroachments of SWDs across Bengaluru City Now, BBMP faces the challenge of eviction and reclamation of stormwater drains
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
‘Potholed roads gave me back pain': Doctor seeks Rs 50 lakh from BBMP
BENGALURU: Mentioning that the deplorable state of city roads has caused him significant physical pain and mental distress, a Bengaluru-based doctor has served a legal notice to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao seeking a whopping Rs 50 lakh as compensation. Dr Kiran Jeevan, a 43-year-old resident of Richmond Town, served the legal notice dated May 14 through his advocate. The notice stated that Jeevan has undergone extreme pain, trauma and suffering due to the poor condition of city roads, potholes, broken and uneven pathways and unmotorable roads. The doctor stated that he is a tax-paying citizen with a right to safe public infrastructure, but due to the BBMP's blatant failure to maintain basic civic infrastructure, he has been subjected to hardship and mental agony. He has suffered severe neck and back pain, which has been medically linked to jerks and trauma, while commuting on the treacherous city roads, forcing him to visit orthopaedic specialists five times and take medication. Due to the hazardous roads, he is unable to travel and this has severely limited his mobility and independence, affecting both his personal and professional commitments.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Bengaluru Heavy Rainfall Live Updates: ‘Sometimes things get out of hand,' says BBMP chief as city battles second-highest rainfall in decade
Bengaluru was battered by 130mm of rainfall in just 12 hours from Sunday evening to early Monday, leading to widespread flooding that left three people dead, submerged 500 homes, and brought over 20 lakes close to overflowing. Triggered by the convergence of two low-pressure systems and intense thunderstorms, the deluge crippled the city's infrastructure, shutting down underpasses, flooding flyovers, halting public bus services, and turning several upscale streets into streams. BBMP chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao called it the second-highest rainfall in a decade. Among the fatalities were a 63-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy electrocuted while pumping out water in BTM Layout, and a housekeeping staffer killed in a wall collapse in Whitefield. Flooding extended to areas like Kengeri and RR Nagar, where 100 homes were inundated and five animals perished. Across the city, 44 four-wheelers and 93 two-wheelers were either submerged or swept away, while rescue teams deployed boats to assist stranded residents. Rainfall in several zones, including Kengeri and HAL Airport, far exceeded the stormwater drain capacity of 70mm, and 20 out of 29 lakes in Yelahanka reached full capacity, with the Central Silk Board junction completely waterlogged. Stay with TOI for live updates. 09:49 (IST) May 20 Bengaluru Rainfall News Live: City battered by 130mm rainfall in 12 hours Bengaluru was battered by 130mm of rainfall in about 12 hours from Sunday evening till dawn on Monday. The deluge left three people dead, flooded 500 homes, brought more than 20 lakes close to overflowing, and turned several upscale streets into waterways. Multiple underpasses and flyovers were closed to traffic, vehicular movement was disrupted for hours with miles-long traffic snarls, and public bus services came to a halt in several parts of the city. 09:49 (IST) May 20 Bengaluru Rainfall News Live: Intense thunderstorms lash multiple parts of the city Heavy rain — triggered by the convergence of two low-pressure systems and accompanied by intense thunderstorms — pounded the southern, northern, and eastern parts of the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in Bengaluru for the next five days. 09:49 (IST) May 20 Bengaluru Rainfall News Live: BBMP chief commissioner says it's second-highest rainfall in a decade As citizens struggled to recover at the start of the workweek, BBMP chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao termed the downpour the second-highest rainfall in a decade, stating, 'Sometimes, things get out of hand; we are working on it.' 09:48 (IST) May 20 Bengaluru Rainfall News Live: Two electrocuted in BTM Layout while pumping out water Manmohan Kamath, 63, and Dinesh, 12 — a security guard's son — were electrocuted while pumping out rainwater that had flooded Madhuvana Apartment in Dollars Colony at BTM Layout 2nd Stage around 6.15pm Monday. Kamath, who lived on the first floor, procured a motor to remove the water. Dinesh, who came to help, was electrocuted when the motor was plugged in. Residents rushed both to the hospital, but it was too late. Dinesh had arrived in Bengaluru from Nepal with his parents three months ago. 09:48 (IST) May 20 Bengaluru Rainfall News Live: Woman dies in wall collapse; animals killed in flooding Shashikala D, 32, a housekeeping staffer in Whitefield, died after the compound wall of the office building she worked in collapsed. The Chief Minister has announced Rs 5-lakh compensation to her family. Nearly 50km from Whitefield, 100 homes in Kote Layout, Kengeri, were flooded. In RR Nagar's Vrishabhavathi Valley, flooding killed five animals — three cows, a calf, and a buffalo. 09:48 (IST) May 20 Bengaluru Rainfall News Live: Streets turn to streams; vehicles submerged or swept away The flooding turned streets into streams, submerging or sweeping away 44 four-wheelers and 93 two-wheelers. Twenty-seven trees were uprooted, and branches fell from 43 more. The State Disaster Response Force deployed boats to evacuate residents from submerged homes and neighbourhoods. 09:47 (IST) May 20 Bengaluru Rainfall News Live: Lakes overflowing, heavy rainfall recorded across city Despite no official work-from-home advisories from major tech companies, firms are keeping all options open should rain continue with similar intensity. Rainfall was the heaviest in Kengeri (132mm), Vaderahalli (131mm), Chikkabanavara (127mm), Chowdeshwarinagar (104mm), and Kempegowda ward (103.5mm), far exceeding Bengaluru's stormwater drain capacity of 70mm. Other areas such as Koramangala, Basavanagudi, Marathahalli, and HAL Airport recorded over 90mm rainfall, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre. In Yelahanka, 20 of 29 lakes reached full capacity. The Central Silk Board junction was also inundated. Bengaluru experienced 130mm of rainfall over 12 hours from Sunday evening to early Monday, leading to severe flooding that claimed three lives, inundated 500 homes, overflowed over 20 lakes, and brought traffic to a standstill as underpasses and flyovers were shut and public bus services halted. The torrential rain was triggered by the convergence of two low-pressure systems and intense thunderstorms, affecting the southern, northern, and eastern parts of the city. The IMD has forecast more heavy rainfall in the next five days. BBMP chief commissioner Maheshwar Rao described the downpour as the second-highest rainfall in the past decade and acknowledged the overwhelming impact on the city, assuring that efforts were underway to address the crisis. In BTM Layout, 63-year-old Manmohan Kamath and 12-year-old Dinesh were electrocuted while using a motor to drain floodwater from an apartment complex. Dinesh had moved to Bengaluru from Nepal three months earlier with his parents. In a separate incident, Shashikala D, a housekeeping staffer in Whitefield, died after a compound wall collapsed. Meanwhile, in Kengeri, 100 homes were flooded, and in RR Nagar's Vrishabhavathi Valley, five animals were killed by rising waters. Streets across the city turned into waterways, submerging or washing away 137 vehicles, uprooting 27 trees and damaging 43 more. Rescue teams deployed boats to evacuate stranded residents. Rainfall figures in several areas far exceeded the 70mm drain capacity, with parts like Kengeri recording up to 132mm. Twenty of 29 lakes in Yelahanka hit full capacity, and Central Silk Board junction was completely inundated.
