In all probability, Bengaluru will flood again this monsoon. The city has an annual and predictable problem of flash floods once the rains start due to clogged drains, overflowing manholes and encroached lakes. There are basic preparatory measures to be undertaken before the monsoon season begins, but they are never done in time.
The city has already received at least three spells of fairly heavy rain and has suffered some of the usual rain-related problems and yet the pace at which the work of de-silting underground drains by the BWSSB is progressing is not reassuring. The work is being done in bits and pieces and is far from complete. Like every year, the BWSSB has woken up too late. The 42 jetting machines (high pressure machines to clean underground drains) that the BWSSB has ordered will be available only in July and will not save the city from flooding this season.
The city usually starts receiving rains on and off from March. This year the rains hit the city a little late, towards April-end. Preferably, the de-silting work should be over before the first rains hit the city and no de-silting work should be done once the rains begin in earnest.
The Met Department said that between November and March is a good time to do the de-silting of drains as the city receives no rains during this season. "De-silting during the rains is not a good idea. Due to abundance of water, no silt but only water comes out during de-silting. This makes the manholes look clean, which might not be the case," said former irrigation secretary Captain S. Raja Rao.