K’taka CM Announces Compensation For Rain-Hit Houses In B’luru’s Yelahanka
Mumbai: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai has announced ₹10,000 compensation for those whose houses were affected amid incessant rains and flooding in Bengaluru’s Yelahanka area.
He further announced a compensation of ₹1 lakh and ₹5 lakh for houses that have been damaged and for houses that have been completely destroyed, respectively.
Speaking to media persons after his visit to a submerged apartment in Yelahanka, Bommai said, “I have ordered the immediate release of Rs 10,000 to those who had suffered due to water entering their homes in Yelahanka area. About 400 houses have been affected. About 10 km of main roads and 20 km of internal roads have also been damaged in the state. I have instructed the concerned officials to prepare an estimate of the losses to infrastructure. Funds would be released immediately to take up repair works.” The Chief Minister attributed the flooding to the hurdles created for ‘rajakaluves’ (stormwater drains).
The work of widening 50 km of rain drains has been taken, while it has been decided to widen 50 km more. The width of Rajkaluwe needs to be increased to 30 feet from the existing 8-10 feet. He said that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the smooth flow of floodwaters in Rajkaluwe.
The Chief Minister said that the Bengaluru civic body has identified 714 illegal structures built on stormwater drains and they would be evicted. He assured that the poor would not be affected and alternative facilities would be provided to them.
The CM said that the residential structures built on the buffer zone would also be shifted by giving proper notice.
The Chief Minister said that a ‘master plan’ would be prepared to improve the drainage system and ensure the smooth flow of floodwater from Yelahanka to Pinakini river via Mahadevapura.
Incessant rains for the last three days have filled the Yelahanka lake, which is in spate. Floodwaters entered the adjoining areas, including the Kendriya Vihar apartment complex that the Chief Minister visited on Tuesday.
The basement of the apartment is submerged in 4-5 feet of water. Bommai said that local MLA Vishwanath has provided food, water and other essential items to the people trapped in the building. A total of 603 people live in the apartment complex.
Yelahanka Lake is connected to 11 upstream lakes. The Chief Minister said that due to heavy rains, water from all the lakes has entered the Yelahanka Lake, which has two narrow rajkaluvas which have been blocked or encroached upon at many places.
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