'Who Sold Ponds, Who Earned Money?': Bengaluru Rains Bring Political Storm, Congress Strives to Stay Afloat

Bengaluru: The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka is under scrutiny from both the Opposition and the public for the collapsing public infrastructure caused by heavy rains. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister CT Ravi questioned who looted all the ponds that Bengaluru once had, and earned money from that? Meanwhile, former Deputy CM Ashwath Narayan said the Congress government has failed as heavy rains were expected already, and the government had enough time to prepare for it.“Earlier, Bengaluru used to have thousands of ponds, who looted all, who earned money through that?... Bengaluru, despite being an international city, is in such a condition, who is responsible?” asked CT Ravi.Meanwhile, Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said, “Infrastructure has completely collapsed. Everywhere we are seeing rainwater flooding causing a lot of inconvenience. It is gushing into each and every house and water logging is happening everywhere. The Congress government has completely failed to address this concern. Though there was a very clear indication that we are going to receive heavy rains they could have taken all the precautionary measures. This Congress government has completely failed”.

JDS Joins the Conversation The issue was also highlighted by Janata Dal Secular (JDS), an ally of the saffron party. The party condemned the "visionary governance" of Congress while reacting to a video showing a physically-challenged woman falling into a pothole. It said, "Welcome to *Brand Bengaluru*! Where a physically challenged woman falling into a pothole during heavy rains is just another day in paradise. While & keep patting themselves on the back for their ‘visionary’ governance, the city's crumbling infrastructure is doing all the talking. BBMP's mastery in turning roads into death traps is unmatched. *Bravo* on setting new standards of neglect and irresponsibility".

Welcome to *Brand Bengaluru*! Where a physically challenged woman falling into a pothole during heavy rains is just another day in paradise. While @siddaramaiah & @DKShivakumar keep patting themselves on the back for their ‘visionary’ governance, the city's crumbling… pic.twitter.com/qoVebti6Fd

— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) October 22, 2024

'Can't Control Nature, Happens in Dubai Too': DK ShivakumarWhile the Opposition continued to question Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alongside the public deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, on Tuesday reiterated that nature cannot be controlled. "You might have noticed in the media what is happening in Dubai and Delhi. There is pollution in Delhi and rains in Dubai, which is a drought prone region. There is a similar situation in many parts of the country. We are managing," he told media reporters."We cannot stop nature but we are there. I am also gathering information from the entire team. My visit is not important because if I go, I will get media attention but the purpose is not to gain publicity but to give relief to the rain affected people," he added. Incidents of rainwater-related issues are being reported from across Bengaluru. In his statement to the media, the deputy CM said the problem was more in the south, west and Mahadevapura zones.

Boats are helping people move out of waterlogged homes, people are catching fish on the streets. Bengaluru, the IT capital of the country is reeling under the weather. #BengaluruFloods pic.twitter.com/WnoNesDQCM

— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) October 22, 2024

"The embankment of a lake gave way in Dasarahalli. Areas under Mahadevapura zone five layouts Basava Samithi Layout, Tata Nagar, Bhadrappa Layout, Vayunandana Layout, Anjaneya Layout, Chitrakoot Apartment, Ramanashree California, Surabhi Layout, Someshwara Layout, Kanaka Nagar were inundated," the DCM explained.The minister added that the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) have been pressed into relief work. To remove water from the apartments and low-lying areas, 20 pumps have been installed to expedite the work. Brand BengaluruWith potholes reemerging and waterlogging issues adding to already existing traffic congestion in the city, incessant rain in Bengaluru has thrown the routine life of people out of gear. This has brought the “Brand Bengaluru” drive in question,a drive initiated by deputy CM Shivakumar.Vijayendra Yediyurappa, chief of BJP Karnataka unit, aimed at the state government, and said, “Thank you, DCM @DKShivakumar , for painting a visionary picture of Bengaluru—a dreamland with sky-high decks and underground wonders. It was almost like stepping into "Alice in Wonderland." Yet, Nature had a different script in mind.”

Skydecks & Underground Tunnels: A Mirage of Dreams

Thank you, DCM @DKShivakumar, for painting a visionary picture of Bengaluru—a dreamland with sky-high decks and underground wonders. It was almost like stepping into "Alice in Wonderland." Yet, Nature had a different script in… pic.twitter.com/GJGftlOMEJ

— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) October 21, 2024

On the other hand, Congress leaders are highlighting the importance of their campaign. Priyank Kharge, state minister and son of Congress’ national president Mallikarju Khrage, said “we are doing more than enough”.“...This is always a problem with a growing city and we have to improve our infrastructure and we are doing more than enough. When was the last time more than Rs 30,000 crores was given for city development? BJP did not even have a Bengaluru incharge minister, right now we have that...We have set up a committee under the leadership of the DCM, where we are going to talk to all tech hubs and industrial parks to see what civic amenities are lacking. The brand Bengaluru was built by us and it will be sustained by us,” said Kharge.

#WATCH | On Bengaluru rains & flooding, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge says, "...This is always a problem with a growing city and we have to improve our infrastructure and we are doing more than enough. When was the last time more than Rs 30,000 crores was given for city… pic.twitter.com/UbuH5GgMYo

— ANI (@ANI) October 22, 2024