Bengaluru is grappling with various challenges, from rainwater flooding houses to unauthorised borewell drilling on public roads, along with confusion surrounding the newly introduced e-Khata system. In an interview, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath discusses the current efforts, future plans, and actions being taken to address these issues and improve conditions for the city’s residents.
BBMP Chief Commissioner: Yes, Bengaluru received heavy rainfall on Saturday, with some areas being more affected than others. For instance, Hampi Nagara saw intense rainfall of 108.5 mm in just 2.5 hours, while Nandini Layout and Yelahanka also experienced significant rainfall. Kendriya Vihar in Yelahanka had built a retaining wall near the river, but it collapsed, causing rainwater to flood the area.
We are currently pumping the water out. In Mahalakshmi Layout, 63 homes were flooded, and we are planning to provide compensation for the affected residents. Fortunately, in Binnypet, although a private wall fell, there was no flooding of homes. To give some context, 109 mm of rainfall is considered quite intense.
Q: How has the rain affected other parts of the city, and what measures are being taken?
BBMP Chief Commissioner: We have had around 15 to 20 trees fall due to the rain, and our teams are working to remove them. It’s important to note that Kendriya Vihar is located at a lower altitude than Yelahanka Kodi, making it prone to flooding. Some may think it’s an encroachment issue. The truth is that over time houses were built in areas not originally mapped as flood-prone. Now that these areas fall under our planning jurisdiction, we are considering building an embankment and creating an alternative water channel.
Q: Why are residents alleging that they haven’t received proper compensation during flooding caused by heavy rains?
BBMP Chief Commissioner: According to our compensation rules, we can only provide compensation if the water stagnates in homes for 48 hours. However, we’ve been more compassionate and are offering compensation of Rs 10,000 to all homes that were flooded. Earlier, compensation would take three to four months to process, but now, with Direct Benefit Transfers and quicker action by zonal commissioners, we’re speeding up the process.
Q: Potholes seem to be a recurring problem, especially during the rainy season. Does this indicate poor quality in fixing them? How is BBMP addressing this issue?
BBMP Chief Commissioner: Potholes cannot solely be blamed on the rainfall, though heavy rains do exacerbate the problem. We have seen water stagnation, particularly in places like Hebbal service lane, and the rain is expected to continue for a few more days. For now, we are using cold mix to temporarily fill the potholes. Once the rain subsides, we’ll carry out long-term measures. Every day, we are receiving new complaints about potholes, and as we fix them, more appear. It’s an ongoing challenge, but we are actively addressing it.
Q: There’s been some confusion surrounding the e-Khata system. Can you clarify the current process?
BBMP Chief Commissioner: The e-Khata system is being implemented properly, but like any new technology, it has its teething problems. Some people have raised concerns such as, a supposed Rs 100 fee for e-Khata, which is not true. There’s also some confusion about geo-tagging, but that process started before the draft e-Khata system was introduced. We’ve outsourced 200 people for this task and are actively sending out messages to the public.
Q: Is e-Khata mandatory now?
BBMP Chief Commissioner: Now, e-Khata is mandatory for property registration, and that’s why the draft e-Khata provision has been introduced. Otherwise, our personnel would visit homes, take photos of the buildings and owners, and mapping would be done for each household. If needed, you can obtain e-Khata now and also check for any discrepancies. We require a sale deed and an encumbrance certificate. The sale deed is necessary as proof of ownership since the e-Khata will be the document used for registrations.
For encumbrance, we need records from April 1, 2004. We’ve held discussions with the revenue department because, when buying or selling property, buyers typically ask for a 20-year encumbrance. This ensures the rightful ownership, as some properties have been sold without updating the e-Khata. Let me clarify that manual Khata is still valid. However, e-Khata is mandatory only for property registration. If you intend to sell your property, an e-Khata is required. We have set up a help desk at the ARO office specifically to assist those looking to sell their properties. If all the necessary documents are provided, we will issue the e-Khata.
Q: There was a recent case of illegal borewell drilling in the middle of the road. Can you tell us more about that?
BBMP Chief Commissioner: Yes, an FIR has been filed against individuals who were illegally drilling a borewell on Om Sai Public Main Road in Veerabhadreshwara Nagar without permission from the municipal authorities. They were drilling on the evenings of October 3rd and 4th. Upon receiving a complaint, municipal authorities inspected the site and found that the public road was damaged. We have lodged a complaint with the Byadarahalli Police Station, and legal action will be taken against those responsible. Additionally, we are imposing a fine for the unauthorised drilling activity.
Q: What steps will BBMP take to prevent such incidents in the future?
BBMP Chief Commissioner: We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure that unauthorised activities like this do not happen again. We also encourage residents to follow the proper procedures and obtain necessary approvals before undertaking such actions. If anyone is found violating the regulations imposed, strict penalties will be enforced.
