SEEING FOR THEMSELVES: BJP leaders led by H.N. Ananth Kumar (fourth from left), MP, inspecting a flooded area near Bannerghatta Road in Bangalore on Tuesday in the company of some of the residents of the area. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has urged the Government to form a task force comprising top officials of various agencies to deal with the devastation caused by the prolonged spell of rain in Bangalore.

The party has blamed the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) for the collapse of the drainage system, leading to widespread flooding.

H.N. Ananth Kumar, MP for Bangalore South and national General Secretary; R. Ashok and S. Raghu, MLAs; Vimala Gowda, MLC; and the party's councillors in the BMP on Tuesday visited the rain-affected parts of Mr. Kumar's constituency. They said there is an absence of coordination between the BDA and the BMP in implementing relief measures. The Government should immediately sanction Rs. 100 crores to fortify the drainage system and tackle the traffic problem, they said.

`Form committees'

Mr. Kumar suggested that the Government set up committees consisting of MPs and MLAs at the Assembly constituency level in Bangalore to oversee the implementation of various development works. It should seek suggestions from experts based in Mumbai for tackling problems such as flooding caused by heavy rain.

Formation of layouts on tank-beds, a poor drainage system and destruction of the link between various tanks are responsible for the floods in Bangalore. The rain is likely to continue till November 3 and people will face a "Mumbai-like situation" if the authorities do not take steps to clear and strengthen the drainage system, Mr. Kumar said.

The BJP will set up a "control room" at its office at Malleswaram and it will function from Wednesday. It will help in providing food, water and medicines to rain-affected people. He urged party workers to tour their respective areas and provide assistance to the people.

The BJP has submitted a 10-point formula to address Bangalore's problems. Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh must instruct officials of the BMP and the BDA to take up relief works on a war footing, he said.

The Government has not released funds to the city municipal councils around Bangalore for four years. The arrears are estimated at Rs. 40 crores to Rs. 50 crores, Mr. Kumar and Mr. Ashok said.

They demanded that the Government pay compensation of Rs. 10,000 to each family whose houses have been damaged.

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