Bangalore, August 9, 2013; The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is eyeing a grant of Rs 2,800 crore from the World Bank (WB) to remodel and protect the three valleys of Vrushabhavathi, Hebbal and Koramangala-Challaghatta in the City.
The civic agency, which has undertaken the Herculean task of fencing the periphery of the three valleys and their major stormwater drains (MSWDs), has prepared an action plan which entails an expenditure of Rs 5,500 crore.
The Palike is likely to get at least Rs 1,300 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), which is less than half the requirement and hence the BBMP has approached the World Bank seeking financial assistance. The State government has given its nod to the Palike to approach WB.
The Palike officials are in talks with representatives of the World Bank in India and have apprised them of the requirements. The bankers and the BBMP are working on terms and conditions, rate of interest and consultant agencies to avail the financial aid. The Palike has insisted that it requires a minimum of Rs 2,200 crore.
A senior Palike officer told Deccan Herald that BBMP has spent Rs 455 crore since 2004-05 under JnNURM to fence and protect only 120 km valleys and their stormwater drains against the total length 857 km-long MSWDs in the City.
“ Stormwater drains were always the most neglected. Rampant encroachment has necessitated the need to protect them. If we succeed in our mission, we will be able to breath life into at least 55 to 60 water bodies in the City,” said the officer.
Digitisation
The Palike has also undertaken digitisation of the MSWDs using Geographical Information System to check encroachment.
“We have started digitising the boundaries of MSWDs. Once it is done, nobody would be able to meddle with the boundaries. Even if the survey boundary stones are shifted, the digitised data will help determine the boundaries,” said the officer.
