The weatherman has predicted heavy rain in the upcoming few days for Bengaluru. Civic bodies of the city have already set high alert around 28 sites that are highly vulnerable to flooding. The residents in these areas have been asked to take precautionary measures in the case of a heavy downpour. These 28 sites in Bengaluru are a part of the most vulnerable 182 points in different parts of the city.
BBMP Asked To Take Precautionary Measures
BBMP has been asked by the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Center (KSNDMC) and the Urban Development Department to take measures in advance to prevent waterlogging issues expected to hit the identified low lying areas. The BBMP is also expected to keep both the materials and men on standby to attend to any emergency that may arise including pumping underpasses for dewatering.
While talking to media, chief engineer BS Pralhad said, “These identified 28 locations may be flooded only if the city gets more than 200 mm rains. At 18 of these locations, water level sensors have been installed with the help from KSNDMC and they will send alerts at four different levels. Sensors will be installed at another 10 locations in the next couple of days.”
The sensors used by BBMP work on solar-operated batteries and send alerts when things are normal (Green line), danger flow (Redline), warning flow (blue line), and flood level (black line) to the concerned officials.
Pralhad said, “Once the officials get the black line alert, residents will be contacted and asked to remove cars and bikes from their basements. While people staying in the low-lying area are always kept on alert.” The special commissioner (project) Ravi Kumar Surpur has said, “Everyone is on a high alert. Standing instructions have been issued to ward engineers up to chief engineers to be on standby. We have also prepared an action plan, which will be presented before the chief minister.”
BBMP Opens 63 Control Rooms & Builds 21 Clearance Teams
BBMP has made provision of 63 temporary control rooms that will operate in eight zonal regions and 1 permanent control room that will function from the headquarters. These temporary control rooms have all the infrastructure like water cleaning equipment and emergency gear and relief material ready for dire situations.
Similarly, the civic body has built around 21 standby teams to clear fallen trees and branches. BBMP is trying to hire 7 more teams for the purpose. Every single team is made up of one supervisor and seven workers. Provisions have also been made for transporting fallen trees immediately to ensure that the roads are clean and without any obstacle.
A trash barrier with five sides has been installed in the stormwater drains to ensure the free flow of rainwater. It will prevent the drainage from getting clogged due to trash.
