Knight Frank proposes additional 600 km of stormwater drains be built in Bengaluru to avoid flooding
Bengaluru (PTI): Property consultancy firm Knight Frank on Wednesday published a report recommending an additional length of more than 600 kilometres of storm water drain (SWD) infrastructure to avoid recurrent flooding in Bengaluru.
The international property consultancy firm also noted that the government should invest Rs 2,800 crore on remodelling and expansion of SWD infrastructure.
In its report titled 'Bengaluru Urban Flood', Knight Frank underscored that as Bengaluru is one of the key engines of the country's economic growth, real estate development will continue to expand to accommodate the city's growth.
For long-term sustenance, there needs to be greater emphasis on the cohesive development of real estate and strengthening of supporting infrastructure without causing further damage to the ecosystem of Bengaluru, the consultancy firm said.
To avoid recurring instances of urban flooding, the governing bodies need to rejuvenate and remodel the city's SWD infrastructure, the report mentioned.
In September last year, torrential downpour led to several parts of Bengaluru reeling with flooded roads and several residential localities along with IT companies remaining inundated for days.
"Currently, Bengaluru has 842 km of primary and secondary drains. To complement the spatial expansion, the city broadly requires an addition of approximately 658 km of primary and secondary drains adding up to a total length of 1,500 km," the firm said.
"As per Knight Frank estimates, the capex requirement for construction of new drains in addition to rejuvenation of existing drains is estimated to be Rs 2,800 crore," it added.
The Karnataka government in its 2023-24 state budget announced an allocation of Rs 3,000 crore for developing stormwater drain infrastructure in the city with assistance from the World Bank, which according to Knight Frank is in line with its estimates.
The consultancy firm said the share of the built-up area of Bengaluru owing to burgeoning population growth has increased from 37.4 per cent in 2002 to 93.3 per cent in 2020.
As a result of rapid and unplanned development, the infrastructure supporting the natural ecosystem of Bengaluru, especially the SWD system has come under severe stress, it noted.
"The interconnection between the water bodies such as lakes and stormwater drains have been severely affected causing recurrent floods in the event of heavy rainfall," Knight Frank said.
The firm has recommended in its report that Bengaluru can adopt nature-based solutions such as 'sponge city' developments as a measure to resolve urban flooding. "Sponge city is a new urban construction model for flood management being implemented in China, aimed at strengthening ecological infrastructure and drainage systems," the report further said.
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UDF will have huge win in Kerala, NDA won't open its account: Cong leader Satheesan
Kochi (PTI): Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan on Friday expressed confidence in a huge win by the UDF, claiming it will make a clean sweep in five districts, and brushed aside speculations that the NDA will open its account in Kerala.
Satheesan, speaking to reporters here a day after the conclusion of the Assembly polls, praised the performance of the UDF leaders and workers during the election, saying it was the best ever he has seen in the last 30 years.
He said that his claims of the UDF getting over 100 seats is not a mere statement, but based on the work the front has done during the last five years to bring back all those who had left it in 2005 and as a result, there was a huge wave in its favour in the state.
The leader of opposition in the state assembly, who contested from the Paravoor constituency, further said that the Congress-led front also had a major social backing from minorities and marginalised groups in the society.
Besides that, there was an anti-incumbency feeling among the people who were disappointed with the LDF rule, he claimed and said that the UDF provided them with a hope and an alternative which no other opposition had done in the past.
"All these factors will contribute to a huge win for the UDF and it would not be surprising if we make a clean sweep in Malappuram, Wayanad, Ernakulam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts. That is a total of 43 seats," he said.
According to him, the polling percentage increased because the UDF got people added to the electoral list.
He also brushed aside the LDF remarks about a woman or youth CM, saying that "they can make such statements now as they know they cannot win".
"Otherwise, why did they campaign with Pinarayi Vijayan as the main factor. Why did they say a third Pinarayi rule will come?" he asked.
He also claimed that the LDF's decision to spend government money on its political campaign, by putting up hoardings and carrying out social media programmes to sway voters, has also backfired as people realised that their taxes were being wasted like that.
Asked whether the NDA will open its account, especially in areas where the UDF claimed the BJP-led front had made a deal with the LDF, Satheesan replied in the negative.
He said that as of now he does not see any chance of the NDA opening its account in the state.
