Mysuru: After facing severe criticism for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) and State Government’s inaction on Rajakaluve (feeder canal) encroachment removal and the resultant flooding of Bengaluru during this post-monsoon rains, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah ordered officials in Mysuru to ‘mercilessly’ clear all encroachments of Rajakaluves in Mysuru.

After visiting flood-affected areas at Paduvarahalli and adjoining areas and Kanakagiri yesterday, Siddharamaiah said that if the encroachment is not cleared now, flooding will be a perennial issue.

Listening to residents’ grievances, the CM asked Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Superintending Engineer Suresh Babu about the funds required to clear Rajakaluve encroachments and other works between Madhuvana and J.P. Nagar. He directed the officials to get going with the works immediately and he would release funds for the same.

Admitting that mistakes have been committed by officials also, the Chief Minister asked them to clear all encroachments without bowing to pressure. “Incessant rains inundated streets, crippling normal life in several parts of the city. Overflowing lakes and drainage systems, coupled with uprooted trees and open drainage system, compounded the people’s woes. We will try our best to prevent the repeat of that situation,” the CM said.

He strongly stated that the demolition drives will be continued against the encroachment of Rajakaluves. The CM denied allegations that the Government was not looking at big builders and influential individuals.

“These encroachments have come up on natural water routes that interconnect lakes. The focus is now on clearing these encroachments since they are responsible for flooding,” the CM said.

He strictly instructed the officials to focus on channels that link lakes. “Ensure there is no flooding when it rains,” the CM told officials.

Siddharamaiah reminded officials that lakes in Mysuru were planned by city builders and Wadiyars in such a manner that excess water from a lake at a higher elevation cascaded into another at a lower level — a system envisaged preventing floods of residential areas.

Asking District officials to make an estimate of flood damage, the CM said that the State will compensate the losses or get aid from National Disaster Relief Fund. Airing their grievances, residents told the CM that they shudder with fear whenever it rains. They explained to the CM how their household articles and food items were destroyed along with stocked up grains.

Residents said that they were forced to spend their days in the houses of people living in high-level houses and fortunately, many women and children were rescued by many good Samaritans who broke the tiles of houses to rescue women and children, they said.

MLAs Vasu and M.K. Somashekar, Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, MUDA Commissioner G. Jagadeesha, Varuna Housing Committee President Dr. Yathindra Siddharamaiah and others were present.