Main reasons for the drowning of Bangalore

After two weeks of heavy rain, I’m breathing a little easier – as a resident of Whitefield, Bengaluru. Dangerous clouds are rolling in from above, but the sheets of water have subsided.

Meanwhile, social media is telling the pulse of the people. Viral content shows abandoned vehicles floating or under water, tractors and their trailers laden with software professionals who come to work and inflatable rafts being rescued by rescuers with residents escaping the flooded layout. which are home to luxury villas. Black humor memes flood our mobile phones with even our feet rolling in bilges. Some discussions have become narrow-minded and even racist, with migrants being the main culprits. Politicians have entered—only figuratively, of course. Most blame the previous governments, while some blame the citizens. Those in the ruling party seem irritable; A wealthy supporter of his own, who is not known for his use of temperate language, has been reprimanded by another for sharing photos related to floods and ‘maligning’ Bengaluru.

Useful discussions involving water and climate experts repeatedly highlight how we have encroached on lakes and watersheds, destroyed wetlands, reduced greenery and concreted the land, Thus facing the consequences of our actions.

when the rot started

The general consensus is that we should do something. We know what to do. But where do we start? How do we proceed and what is the sequence? Who will help?

As Bengaluru expanded, swamping its surrounding villages, the panchayats were dissolved to form six municipal corporations, which were later merged into the Bhrihat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). During this transition, land records were either destroyed or tampered with, and fake documents fabricated by corrupt interests. The lakes and their catchment areas were soon converted to private land. Builders filled these back and soon built quick-money apartments, shopping malls and information-technology parks. We were arrogant thinking that we could somehow challenge nature. But water finds its own level, whether we are rich or poor.

them and we

Still, it smells of déj vu. Many cities in Europe and the United States today, despite their beautiful environments, have instances where there was ruthless destruction of the environment, and the construction frenzy to become the engine of pulsating economic growth. They also saw a nexus of corruption involving politicians and bureaucrats, refraining from making environmentally sensible decisions for short-term gains. They also benefited from migration, which brought energy and skill. And they too, like us, suffered from two classic impediments to the provision of public welfare. First, the problem of free riders, where people took part in city-provided benefits without paying city taxes. And second, the ‘tragedy of the common people’ problem, where dams against environmental breakdown – wetlands, lakes, grasslands, trees, parks and forests – belonged to none.

That’s the difference between us and them – they grew when nature had a way to try and establish a new environmental balance. On the contrary, we are destroying our environment when climate change is already upon us; And further damage would only result in a wider sequence of disasters.

Bengaluru continues to implement reforms, albeit slowly. We have had some success in rainwater harvesting, solar water heating, waste segregation and waste prevention, even if the deadline is not met. We are better than many in environmental compliance, though not enough.

We lack the institutional capacity to deal with the problems of the future. We cannot live with the same alphabet soup of unorganized institutions that contributed to our problems in the first place and include local governments, namely BBMP and state institutions like Panchayats, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development . authorities (BMRDA), various ‘planning authorities’ and revenue departments and parastatals such as Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), Lake Authority and Bangalore Smart City Limited.

implement reforms

We need two broad thrusts to implement the reforms we need, climate resilience and creating a better environment.

First, we must carry out institutional euthanasia. Multiplicity of institutions does not improve performance. They are deliberately created to get in each other’s way, complicate governance and preserve opportunities that benefit corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and land exploiters. Old institutions need to be replaced by a constitutionally compliant structure, with local governments at the helm. Eleven independent planning authorities should be merged and placed under the Metropolitan Planning Committee. This constitutionally mandated institution enables all stakeholders ranging from Bengaluru’s largest land owners, i.e. defence, railways, airports and national highway authorities. Metropolitan Municipality and Panchayats within the metropolitan area, to participate. Similarly, parastatals like BWSSB and Smart City Company should be subject to BBMP.

take tough decisions

Second, our community needs to reinvent itself for some tough decisions. Climate resilience is beyond flood control; It needs to reduce the harmful environmental impact of cities. We should take tough decisions on transport, curb car travel and improve cheap public transport with more buses instead of waiting for expensive metro. We should preserve our existing green cover and plant more and more trees in and around the city. We must concrete our sidewalks, stop littering and segregate waste as segregated garbage clogs drains. We should enforce the operational standards of sewage treatment plants. We need to accelerate reform efforts Rajkaluwes (channels that connect water bodies) As shown in an area of ​​11 km in the city centre.

We have to deal with a vast legacy of unacceptable constructions and encroachments. The only solution is to remove some of these unacceptable build-up and restore wetlands and tank beds. As the effects of global warming are intensifying, any delay will result in the return of its due to nature. Flood water will not spare anyone, be it rich or poor.

I can already hear the gasp of incredulity. How can we entrust our lives to the gentle ministries of our corporators, who have a reputation for being thugs and scoundrels? Such thinking is fraught with serious flaws. First, we can elect better people for the corporation. Second, the idea that the higher we go, the more principled and politician-like people are, is a ridiculous and naive notion. Third, it undermines the biggest instruments of accountability in the BBMP, ward committees and the region. meetings, It is in our hands to make these institutions work well. The State Departments and Parastatals do not have a participatory mechanism of the concerned people.

The only things we can get away with are narrow arguments. Both the migrant ‘techie’ and the migrant waste picker are vital to the economic health of Bengaluru. There is a time lag between migrant arrivals and their becoming vocal stakeholders in the health of the city; This is no reason to condemn them. In fact, if all the migrants return to their homes, our city will collapse.

good politics

Lastly, the apolitical approach has its limitations. For decades political parties of all colors have been exploiting Bengaluru. Let’s face it. If we continue to vote for the corrupt for ideas other than development and environmental protection, we will not find a solution. Our bad political choices are preventing good politicians and bureaucrats from taking decisions. While public participation can seem like a suicide mission and the frustration and anger of being pushed back can take a toll, the only cure for bad politics is more politics of good. no less than that.

TR Raghunandan is former Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Government of Karnataka, former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India and Senior Policy Adviser, Center for Policy Research, New Delhi.