‘Visible improvement’ of Bellandur lake in three months, pothole-free roads within 10 days, and re-commencement of the drive to clear encroachments on stormwater drains were the promises made by Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, who went on his maiden round of the city on Monday after taking over as Bengaluru Development Minister.
Starting with taking stock of Bellandur and Kaggadasapura lakes, he held a review meeting with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
During his visit, Mr. Parameshwara heard complaints from residents about untreated sewage being let into the lakes. He reprimanded Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials and directed them to put up a 5MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at the upstream Kaggadasapura lake to take the overload of sewage from the several apartments that have sprung up around the lake.
As for the highly polluted Bellandur lake, he said he will review the steps taken by multiple agencies as recommended by the Technical Expert Committee and hasten measures, and promised a visible change in the next three months.
Potholes
Speaking to mediapersons after the review meeting, Mr. Parameshwara said that there are over 6,000 potholes dotting the city’s roads of which around 1,200 were bigger than one square metre. “The large potholes (over 1 sq.m.) will be filled with Python machine. The other potholes will be filled up in the next 10 days,” he said.
But with the onset of the monsoon, BBMP officials said that potholes can now be filled up with wet mix, which is only a temporary solution. They cited elections and the model code of conduct as reasons for not filling them up earlier.
Clearing encroachments on SWDs
The minister said that the government will re-start the special drive to clear encroachments on SWDs, which were suspended mid-way in 2016. “I have asked the Director, Survey Department to map the entire city and the SWD network marked with encroachments to be cleared, in the next 10 days, following which the SWD Department will create a master plan based on which we will re-start the drive,” he said, adding that the government would neither spare anybody nor buckle under pressure. He further added that he had reviewed the flood mitigation measures in place and said local officials will be held responsible for flooding in their areas.
