Manyata Tech Park flooding: BBMP marks properties to clear encroachment, build drains

Bengaluru 

Days after the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued notices to tech parks, the civic body has started marking properties in the tech enclave to clear encroachments and build drains to channel rainwater into the primary Rajakaluve (stormwater drain) in the Nagawara area. The property owners are directed to surrender the land free of cost and construct the drain on their own.

The BBMP issued the notice to clear encroachments on June 12, and the Zonal Commissioner of Yelahanka, Karigowda, held a meeting with property owners on Tuesday evening. Karigowda emphasized that the BBMP will implement the recommendations made in the report.

Sources in the BBMP said the workers started marking on Wednesday, and it will be completed soon. The civic authorities have made markings of encroachments in Manyata, Manyata Promoters Pvt Ltd, Embassy Office Park REIT, Ebisu Tech Park Pvt Ltd, and Manpho. It is still unclear whether markings were done at Karle Town Centre. BBMP Special Commissioner (Revenue), Munish Moudgil, talking to BLR.POST, said, “In his report, he has recommended the construction of a portion of the drain in Karle Town Centre as well. The BBMP is strictly looking for a solution and not siding with any property owners.”

According to one of the property owners involved in the dispute, the BBMP has not yet marked properties at Karle Town Centre. The owner said the BBMP is considering the drain width of 15 meters on his property. It should be noted that the BBMP has decided on the solution based on the 1958 revenue map, which it says is the only legally binding map, and discarded the old 1885 map, which shows a 33-foot drain originating from Sultanpalya, traveling through Karle Tech Centre, and connecting to the main primary drain.

However, some property owners argue that the major cause of flooding in Nagawara is the disruption of the Rajakaluve (stormwater drain) that originates from Sultanpalya. The 33-foot-wide drain abruptly narrows to just six feet and makes a sharp 90-degree turn near a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Instead of flowing into the Mariyanna Palya Bruhat Kaluve (Nagawara Kere Kodi in Thanisandra)—the natural course visible on Google Maps until 2012—the drain is diverted, causing water to overflow onto the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and surrounding properties. The drain comes to an abrupt end at the boundary of Karle’s property.

The BBMP claims that before the land was developed, these were agricultural fields, and rainwater flowed through the fields. It is not just Karle; other property owners are also equally responsible for flooding as they encroached. The BBMP has delivered a fair plan to avoid flooding in the area.