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Karnataka's deputy chief minister Shri D K Shivakumar has announced that approximately 100 buildings obstructing stormwater drains in Bengaluru will be demolished to prevent urban flooding. Invoking the Disaster Management Act, the government aims to ensure the free flow of rainwater. The BBMP chief commissioner has been granted full authority to carry out these demolitions, with compensation considered for affected property owners. This initiative follows inspections of flood-prone areas like Yelahanka and Manyata tech park, where significant waterlogging has been observed.
In a decisive bid to combat the recurring menace of urban flooding in Bengaluru, Karnataka's deputy chief minister Shri D K Shivakumar declared that around 100 buildings obstructing the city's stormwater drains would be demolished. Invoking the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, the state government has empowered the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) chief commissioner with full authority to execute the drive aimed at restoring the natural flow of rainwater through these essential drains. Advertisement
This announcement followed inspections conducted in flood-prone zones such as Yelahanka and Manyata Tech Park, where extensive waterlogging was found to be the direct result of unauthorised construction over drainage networks. Shivakumar stated that any structure-regardless of its owner-found impeding rainwater flow would be removed. He remarked that if any building, even his own, stood in the way of stormwater movement, it would have to be brought down.
He also acknowledged that past efforts to remove such encroachments were stymied by prolonged legal disputes and poor coordination between property owners and civic authorities. With the Disaster Management Act now activated, he asserted that the administration had no option but to move forward firmly with demolitions.
The BBMP's chief commissioner has been tasked with identifying and clearing all structures that hinder drainage. Shivakumar clarified that the intention is not to target citizens unnecessarily but to safeguard public interest and uphold Bengaluru's urban image. He indicated that the authorities are not indiscriminately halting construction activity but are focused on eliminating encroachments that compromise the city's flood resilience.
He further mentioned that the government is considering compensation for affected landowners and that initial discussions with them have been constructive. According to him, several property owners have responded positively and are willing to cooperate. The government's aim, he explained, is to balance sustainable urban development with the imperative of maintaining free-flowing drainage systems.
This campaign is part of a larger framework to strengthen the city's infrastructure and manage the increasing flood risks more effectively. As the monsoon season approaches, officials see this initiative as essential to protecting both property and public safety in one of India's most prominent metropolitan centres.
As the city prepares for the monsoon, this initiative not only targets immediate risk mitigation but also sets a precedent for urban infrastructure reforms rooted in sustainability, public safety, and regulatory enforcement. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining how effectively policy turns into practice.
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