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The heavy rains in Bengaluru over the past three days have not only brought waterlogging and inundation of areas but are now threatening the health of people as garbage has begun piling up.
TNM visited waterlogged areas of JD Mara, Bilekahalli, and Bannerghatta road on Tuesday, May 20, and found that water flow has been completely impeded by accumulated garbage, not allowing the water to be drained. This, in turn, has contributed to more traffic jams.
In JD Mara, a stretch of area near Vega City that’s home to slum areas and crowded local markets, the smell of unattended garbage hits long before you reach the site. Piles of garbage lay next to homes constructed with metal sheets. The rain had forced most of the garbage into homes. Residents could be found clearing their homes of the water, as no help had arrived for them.
Garbage has been dumped on every side of the street, ranging from bricks and construction waste to spoilt fruits and vegetables. This is not the first time the area has been inundated like this.
Sarojamma, a domestic worker and resident, said, “It’s the same story every year. It rains, and then the drains get clogged due to garbage that is left in the corners, and dirty water enters our homes. We are removing flood water all night without a break. Nobody comes; nobody listens to us.”
The slum area is located next to the Vega City mall and is barely a kilometre from residential high-rises. “But somehow, our slum is a blind spot,” said Latha, who is terrified that her three children might fall sick again. Every time it rains, her family has to contend with mosquitoes, and her children inevitably fall sick with infections and skin rashes.
“We have lived beside garbage for years, and BBMP has done absolutely nothing about it,” she said.
Meanwhile, roads in several stretches of Bannerghatta road and Devarachikkanahalli have turned into small rivers. Garbage still clogs all the storm drains and water gutters, keeping the water on the roads. Vehicles traversing the routes here have been struggling as pavements are also submerged, and it is difficult to make out how deep the water stands.
On Bannerghatta road, a small stretch houses both Apollo and Fortis Hospitals. The entrances to both hospitals are inundated with water.
“Last night, the water was at a higher level, making it difficult for vehicles to move. I had to stand here and guide ambulances through the street,” said Suresh, a security guard at Fortis Hospital.
On the waterlogged, busy road, a red barricade was dumped in front of Fortis Hospital on the morning of May 20 by the traffic police. Since the water levels were high, no one could figure out what the barricade was for. But vehicles kept moving, some venturing quite close to the barricade as well.
“What is the point of barricades when there is no one from the civic agency to help drain out the water? There are two hospitals on the street, and it is quite important to ensure the roads are clear in this situation for any emergency. Most of the ambulances are now stuck in traffic jams or finding other routes due to waterlogging,” he complained.
On the other side of the road, the BBMP had been engaged with roadworks for weeks. Suresh said, “But now, when we need their help the most, not a single person is to be seen.”
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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu will attend the NITI Aayog Government Council meeting during his three-day visit to New Delhi, beginning on May 22.
The Chief Minister will meet several Union Ministers. He is also scheduled to meet several industrialists regarding investments in the state, said an official statement.
On May 24, the Chief Minister will participate in the NITI Aayog Governing Council Meeting to be held at Bharat Mandapam. He will return to Amaravati later that night.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the meeting of the governing council, the apex body of NITI Aayog.
The Prime Minister is the Chairman of NITI Aayog. The government council includes the Chief Ministers of all states, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories, and several central ministers.
Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key ally of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, is likely to seek special assistance from NITI Aayog for Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister may place details of various programmes being implemented by the state government before the Governing Council and request the body to extend liberal assistance.
In February, Naidu sought the NITI Aayog’s support to achieve the Swarnandhra goal of one AI professional and one entrepreneur in every family.
The Chief Minister had made the request when NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Suman Bery met him in Amaravati.
Naidu also sought the active cooperation of NITI Aayog in extending the technological assistance and in implementing new policies.
Informing Bery about the target set to be reached by 2047, the Chief Minister said that the $2.4 trillion economy will have to be achieved by 2047 with 15 percent growth rate every year, with an average $42,000 per capita income.
Naidu expressed confidence that the State will move much ahead if NITI Aayog extends its support, and Andhra Pradesh will stand as a model State in Viksith Bharat-2047.
During his visit to the national capital, the Chief Minister will also meet Union Ministers and discuss various issues and development-related projects in the state.
Naidu had met several Central ministers during his visit to Delhi last month. They discussed development projects under the ambit of various ministries.
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The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) has decided to use anti-drone technology in view of the threat perception to Sri Venkateswara temple, the world's richest Hindu temple.
The TTD announced on Tuesday that it decided to use anti-drone technology, keeping in mind the security aspect of the Tirumala temple.
The decision was taken at the TTD Trust Board meeting presided over by Board Chairman B. R. Naidu.
Flying of drones is banned around the hill shrine, but some instances of security breaches have been reported in recent months. Last month, a YouTuber from Rajasthan was arrested when he operated the drone, allegedly recording the temple and its surroundings.
In a similar incident last year, a couple from Haryana were found using a drone camera along the Tirumala ghat road. In March, the TTD urged the Centre to declare a no-fly zone over the hill shrine. The TTD Chairman wrote a letter to Union Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu, requesting that Tirumala be declared a no-flying zone, keeping in mind the principles of Agama Shastra, sanctity of the temple, safety, and sentiments of the devotees.
The TTD says that aerial activities on the hill disturb the sacred atmosphere around the temple.
Tuesday’s Board meeting gave nod for steps towards the transfer of non-religious people working in the TTD through alternative ways or by giving them the Voluntary Retirement Scheme.
The temple body also decided to take legal action against the crew of the movie "DD Next Level: for remixing the Govinda Namavali, thus hurting the sentiments of the devotees.
The Board decided to increase the green cover in the Tirumala hills. The board gave its nod to increase the green cover in the Tirumala hills from the existing 68.14 per cent to 80 per cent through the Forest Department as directed by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
The TTD decided to release Rs 4 crore to the Forest Department in phased manner, including Rs 1.74 crore for the year 2025-26, Rs 1.13 crore in 2026-27, and Rs 1.13 crore in 2027-28.
The Board gave its approval to provide an additional Rs 71 crore per year in addition to the current Rs 60 crore financial aid provided to the SVIMS Super Specialty Hospital, which is providing better medical services to many poor and needy people in Rayalaseema.
It was also decided to recruit doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff for the posts which are currently vacant in SVIMS and to complete the buildings which are under construction.
The Board decided to introduce Srivari Vaidya Seva soon on the lines of Srivari Seva voluntary service, inviting experts in the medical field to offer services to the patients.
Justice PC Ghose Commission, which is probing irregularities in the execution of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation project, has summoned former chief minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao. The Commission has also issued notices to former Minister T Harish Rao and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Eatala Rajender.
While K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has been asked to appear on June 5, BRS leader Harish Rao has been summoned on June 6. Rajender has been directed to appear before the Commission on June 9.
During KCR's first term as the chief minister between 2014 and 2018, Harish Rao was the irrigation minister while Rajender held the finance portfolio. During KCR's second term from 2018 to 2023, Harish Rao was the finance minister, while the irrigation portfolio was with KCR.
The Commission, headed by retired Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose, is probing the alleged irregularities in planning, design, construction, quality control, operation and maintenance of Medigadda, Annaram and Sundilla Barrages of the Kaleshwaram project.
The one-man Commission was constituted in March 2024, a few months after some piers of the Medigadda Barrage caved in. The term of the Commission has been extended repeatedly for seven times so far after its initial term ended on June 30, 2024.
Notices to KCR, Harish Rao and Rajender were issued a day after the state government extended the Commission’s term for two more months, till July 31, to enable it to complete the examination of all those involved. The Commission has so far examined over 100 engineers, retired and serving officials associated with the barrages and others. Most of the engineers who were examined by the Commission either admitted to lapses in the procedures or expressed ignorance about decision-making.
The Commission examined various documents, including the final report of the National Dam Safety Authority, the Vigilance report and other files. The panel was expected to submit its report to the government on May 21 or 22.
However, the Commission decided to examine KCR, Harish Rao and Rajender as most of the engineers and officials who deposed before it stated that the decisions were taken in the presence of the then chief minister and that they acted on the chief minister's and ministers’ orders. Meanwhile, reacting to the notices, BRS leader Krishank Manne alleged that a notice was issued to KCR to disturb BRS NRI celebrations scheduled to be held in the United States on June 1.
The Hyderabad Metro Rail management, on Tuesday, May 20, announced 10% discount on the increased fares, which came into effect from May 17. L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited (L&TMRHL) announced the discount across all fare zones in all three metro corridors, which will come into effect from May 24.
This decision has been taken after carefully considering passenger feedback and reflecting the organisation’s commitment to enhancing commuter affordability while maintaining financial prudence, the company said in a statement.
Last week, it announced a ticket fare hike from two rupees on the minimum fare of Rs 10, to Rs 15 for the maximum fare of Rs 60. The fare hike was about 20 to 25%. This was the first fare hike raised after seven-and-a-half years of the project taking off. L&TMRHL had stated that the fare revision was introduced based on the recommendations of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) and as part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure the long-term sustainability of metro operations and maintenance.
However, the hike was not well received by the commuters, who demanded a rollback. The opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had demanded that the government withdraw the hike immediately by absorbing it on behalf of the Hyderabad Metro Rail.
Following the demand from various quarters, L&TMRHL announced a 10% discount on the revised fares. It said that this decision underscores its commitment to addressing passenger needs while maintaining operational sustainability. "While the fare revision was essential for maintaining the sustainability of metro operations, we understand the importance of minimising the financial impact on our valued passengers. In alignment with our passenger’s feedback and welfare, we have decided to provide a 10% discount on the newly revised fares, across all fare zones in all the three metro corridors from 24th May 2025, demonstrating our dedication to making daily commuting more accessible," L&TMRHL MD and CEO, KVB Reddy, said.
The FFC, under the chairmanship of a former High Court Judge, was constituted by the Centre on September 5, 2002, and it had recommended a revised fare structure on January 25, 2023. The FFC had recommended a two-stage fare hike two years ago, within a gap of six months in February 2023. But, due to various reasons, including the general elections, the decision was postponed. While announcing the fare hike, the company had stated that it cannot afford to put off the decision anymore, as its losses have been mounting. It said that it needs funds to buy new metro trains to increase the number of services during the peak hours in the morning and evening.
