From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 25: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa gave the green signal for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take up the RS 179.5 crore Koramanagala Valley Rajakaluve Development and Maintenance (K-100) as a Citizens Waterway Project by laying the foundation stone on Thursday.
The ambitious project, which has been already cleared by the state government, is being taken up on the model of the famous 'Sabaramathi River Waterfront' project in Gujarat.
The natural stormwater drain of Koramangala valley starting from Krishnarajendra Market till the Bellandur Lake and separate the garbage that gets dumped in making it the most polluted and becoming a health menace besides an eyesore. The K-100 drain network is 11.4 kms in length and is connected to the Dharmambudhi Lake, which is the present Kempegowda bus station or Majestic area, to Bellandur Lake and the entire stormwater drain network spans over 28 kms including the subsidiary drains.
The project provides for treating the sewerage water flowing into it through a stormwater treatment plant to ensure flow of clean water round the year and thereby provide a much-needed water recreational facility. Interestingly, the footpaths along the entire length of the project are proposed to be developed on the model of the work already done in Church Street behind Bengaluru’s popular hangout Mahatma Gandhi Road.
The project was included in the Bengaluru Mission 2022 document released by the chief minister in December last.
Addressing a formal function after laying the foundation stone, the chief minister asked the officials to go ahead and implement the project and complete it within the 10 months as proposed.
When the state Cabinet approved the project last year, the estimated cost was Rs 169 crore. It has now shot up to Rs 179.5 crore.
The chief minister said the state government was keen to ensure that the project becomes a major tourist attraction and also provide recreational facilities to the citizens as the development of stormwater drains and the efforts for treating the air and water pollution would enhance the beauty of Bengaluru, which has been recognized as one of the most livable urban metropolis. Simultaneously, the state government wants to develop and rejuvenate all the stormwater drains, ensure smooth traffic flow by reducing congestion, ensure scientific treatment and disposal of garbage and improving the gardens and green cover as part of the Bengaluru Mission initiative.
BJP MLA Uday Garudachar, KSRTC chairman Nandish Reddy, MLC Govindaraju, additional chief secretary and State Development commissioner Vanditha Sharma, BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and other officials attended the function.
CM meets Bengaluru BJP legislators
Earlier, a delegation of the Raichur district led by Shivaraj Patil, MLA, called on the chief minister and submitted a memorandum seeking the start of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Raichur.
A delegation of Assam community leaders met the chief minister at his home office in the morning urging the state government to take necessary steps to safeguard and protect the Assamese people settled or working in the state. The delegation was led by D J Buyan.
Later, the chief minister met the BJP legislators from the city on issues pertaining to the development of their constituencies. Deputy chief minister Govind M Karjol, home and law and parliamentary affairs minister Basavaraj Bommai, social welfare minister B Sriramulu and chief minister's political secretary M P Renukacharya were present during the meeting held at Yediyurappa’s home office of Krishna in Bengaluru.