BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike BBMP ), which had halted its stormwater drain (SWD) encroachment clearance drive in August 2016, is now preparing to restart the exercise.While the Palike claimed it had been forced to stop the drive due to shortage of surveyors, many suspected that the initiative had succumbed to the rich and powerful after it ran into their properties standing on drains. In the last two years, the civic agency briefly restarted the drive on more than three occasions, but failed to continue it vigourously. Now, the BBMP seems to have woken up in the middle of monsoon.“On Saturday, I met 10 surveyors who have been deputed by the joint director of land records (Bengaluru Urban district), revenue department, to assess the progress of their work. I have asked them to submit certified drawings of the encroachments and to mark encroachments at the site itself. Only after this will we coordinate with zonal joint commissioners and kick off the drive,” said HT Bettegowda , chief engineer (SWDs), BBMP.Previously, the Palike had identified 1,953 encroachments along its 842km SWD network, of which it claims to have removed 1,225 as of February 2017.Last year, during the record monsoon that lashed the city between August and October, several people were washed away in overflowing SWDs. Additionally, studies conducted by Indian Institute of Science researchers concluded that one of the reasons behind the flooding of low-lying areas like Koramangala was large-scale encroachment and dumping of debris in these drains.According to Bettegowda, “Encroachments have been found in 434 survey numbers across 21 areas, largely in the outer zones. One survey number can have more than one encroachment. While there is a balance of 728 encroachments from the earlier survey, the results of different surveys can vary. This one started about three weeks ago and will be a continuous process.”Hoodi, Kothanur, Ramagondanahalli, Hagadur, Gunjur, Doddabidarakallu, Horamavu, Sidedahalli, Herohalli, Bagalakunte, Karihobanahalli, Pattanagere, Halagevaderahalli, Thanisandra, Begur, Turahalli, Medahalli, Junnasandra, Devasandra, Vibhuthipura, Doddakannelli.

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