Bengaluru’s Nagawara area, a 33-foot-wide stormwater drain, known locally as a rajakaluve, has been constricted to just six feet at a sharp 90-degree turn near a prominent tech park.
This significant narrowing has led to recurrent flooding along the Hebbal valley in North Bengaluru during every monsoon season. The encroachment has resulted in the inundation of service roads, the Outer Ring Road, and nearby establishments, causing severe traffic disruptions and hindering pedestrian movement, particularly affecting employees of nearby tech companies. Despite the persistent chaos, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has not taken effective action to remove the encroachments. Officials attribute the delay to an ongoing court case, while insiders suggest that political pressure is protecting the violators.
Historical records, including the 1869 village map and revenue documents, indicate that the secondary stormwater drain originates in Voddanapalya, traverses through Nagawara, and empties into the Mariyanna Palya Bruhat Kaluve (Nagawara kere kodi in Thanisandra). This route was traceable on Google Maps until 2012. Local residents allege that a prominent builder obstructed the drain and influenced the reclassification of adjacent government land from ‘kharif’ to ‘kaal daari’ (pathway), facilitating construction that exacerbates flooding in areas like Manyata Tech Park and the Manpho Convention Centre. The now-withdrawn Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) 2031 had acknowledged the existence of this drain, and the Koliwad Committee Report (2014–2017) had flagged the encroachment. Yet, despite multiple inspections following each flood, no corrective measures have been implemented.
This particular rajakaluve falls within the Byatarayanapura assembly constituency. The recurring flooding not only disrupts daily life but also poses significant challenges to urban planning and sustainability in the region. The situation underscores the urgent need for authorities to address infrastructural encroachments and implement sustainable urban development practices to mitigate such perennial issues.
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