Bengaluru gears up for monsoon, measures in place to face challenges

BENGALURU: As Bengalureans eagerly await the arrival of monsoon in about a week or so, Athira Nair does a quick check about the readiness of authorities to deal with the challenges that rains bring along. Here is a take on what's being planned to minimise the inconvenience.

BBMP The civic body has invested about 20 crore ahead of monsoon.

Thirteen teams with 8-10 experienced cutters each are deployed exclusively for removing the fallen trees branches.

With 4 crore, 198 teams have also been provided with tractor to remove silt from drains. Beside 8 crore has been invested to repair arterial and sub-arterial roads. Each ward is given 1 lakh to identify bad stretches and repair potholes. Nodal officers in every zone will be alerted on the complaints received at the call centre, says BBMP Administrator TM Vijay Bhaskar

Pollution Board Since monsoon is the time when pollution is comparatively low, the board is relaxed at the moment

Air pollution levels decrease in monsoon as dust is settled in the rain.

Once the rains are over, the board will take up monitoring of lakes and rivers which will be filled with fresh water by then. “Once we get the pollution levels after the rain, we can engage in further steps to bring the pollution level down in the water bodies," says board chairperson Vaman Acharya

BWSSB It has already installed 119 jetting machines in low-lying lands

The call centre will be active 247 on (080) 22238888. Engineers in the all the 110 service stations have been asked to carry their mobile phones at all times in case of public complaints, says BWSSB engineer-in-chief T Venkatraju

Bescom It has 200 maintenance vehicles and a full-fledged call centre (1912) to redress complaints

More cranes have been acquired for lifting transformers that might fall on the roads during rain. “With an investment of 8 crore, we are prepared to ensure power supply is restored at the earliest.We are coordinating with the BBMP," says Bescom MD Pankaj Kumar Pandey

Health The authorities are expecting a resurgence of dengue worse than the previous years

Breeding sites of mosquitoes such as small-scale industries, slums, and construction sites have been warned.

Since water stagnant for more than seven days can breed mosquitoes, officials will be drying out possible sources of stagnant water -from empty tea cups to open water tanks.

The department is also collecting data on dengue from every private hospital, according to district health and family welfare officer
Dr Rajani M

Traffic Bangalore Traffic Police is preparing for the mess that the rains will bring to roads

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) MA Saleem says it has been made compulsory for traffic policemen to bring raincoats and umbrella for duty for the shift from 2 pm-10 pm. Traffic inspectors have also been provided with machetes and sickles in case roadside trees fall on the road, as the BBMP might take time to reach the spot