CM Basavaraj Bommai blames previous Congress govt for Bengaluru’s plight

BENGALURU: Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday blamed unprecedented rain and the previous Congress government’s maladministration for Bengaluru’s current plight.
“They (Congress) gave permission right, left and centre (for construction) in lakes, tank bunds and buffer zones. Despite all odds, our government has taken it up as a challenge to restore the rain-battered city and make sure such things don’t recur,” Bommai told mediapersons.

The CM said a central team is visiting Karnataka on Tuesday night, and it will on Wednesday go to rain-hit areas across the state, especially in Bengaluru. Incidentally, the BJP has been in power in BBMP, the city corporation, since 2010. The party ruled the state from 2008-13 and is at the helm again since 2019. Several assembly constituencies in Bengaluru — especially Mahadevapura and Bommanahalli — which saw massive waterlogging and traffic disruptions, were represented by BJP legislators for nearly one-and-a-half decades.
State Congress president DK Shivakumar said: “Since 2008, they have been in power for almost eight years. Why did they not correct Congress’ mistakes? Who stopped them from acting? Even now, no one is stopping them.”
Under BJP rule, brand Bengaluru has been demolished, claimed Shivakumar. “Thirty-nine percent of the country’s taxpayers is from Bengaluru. Can’t they (BJP) ensure safety of Bengalureans? Bommai does not have the trust of the people. He does not have a vision for Bengaluru and Karnataka,” Shivakumar added.
Bommai, meanwhile, said the perception that the entire city is facing difficulties is incorrect. “Basically, the issue lies in two zones, particularly Mahadevapura, for reasons such as the presence of 69 tanks in that small area. Almost all of them have either breached or are overflowing. Secondly, all establishments are in low-lying areas and thirdly, there are encroachments,” the CM pointed out.
He attributed flooding in Bengaluru to unprecedented rainfall over the past few days. “Karnataka, especially Bengaluru, has not received such heavy showers for the last 90 years. All tanks are full and overflowing...,” Bommai said.