The Times of India 29.09.2009
Corporates doing their bit
BANGALORE: If you thought the corporate sector was busy just warding off recession, you are wrong. An increasing number are joining hands with the BBMP to keep the city from flooding. The success of a pilot effort in Ejipura, that's made some difference to this perennial flood-pot, has now unclogged ways for more such ventures.
The September rain has seen floods recurring in most parts of the city this year. When it rained heavily last Wednesday and Thursday, the BBMP control rooms were inundated with complaints from almost all parts of the city. But for a change, residents of Ejipura felt `better than the rest'. Quite a difference for this vulnerable area.
"It has always been bad here when it rains. Water entered our houses last year. This time, it stopped on the roadside. Even on Wednesday, water entered very few houses. For a change, we felt better than the other areas that were flooded," says a happy Anil Kumar, who's been living at Ashwini Layout in Ejipura for almost 15 years.
WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?
A simple Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative last month helped clean a segment of the primary drain adjacent to Ejipura slum, along the Koramangala valley. It's hard to miss drain work in the city. A majority of them started in a big way but even years later, are `still in progress'. Surprisingly, not many residents of the area are even aware of this drain work.
The three-week operation by Mantri Developers had over 10,000 cubic metres of garbage, debris and silt removed from this stretch. The operation was conducted on 24/7 basis; debris was removed during the day and transported at night.
WHAT LIES AHEAD?
Part of the BBMP's Sahyog initiative, this pilot partnership with CREDAI- Karnataka could go a big way in unclogging more drains. Even the drying of lakes and choked roads could see a way out with corporate partnership.
The BBMP is now working with CREDAI-K on the Kempambuddhi lake. "The specifics are yet to be worked out. But it's been encouraging to see an increasing number of corporates approaching us to take up civic work in problem areas. We are also working with other organizations like City Connect on areas like Hudson Circle and Central Silk Board Junction," BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena told TOI.
The September rain has seen floods recurring in most parts of the city this year. When it rained heavily last Wednesday and Thursday, the BBMP control rooms were inundated with complaints from almost all parts of the city. But for a change, residents of Ejipura felt `better than the rest'. Quite a difference for this vulnerable area.
"It has always been bad here when it rains. Water entered our houses last year. This time, it stopped on the roadside. Even on Wednesday, water entered very few houses. For a change, we felt better than the other areas that were flooded," says a happy Anil Kumar, who's been living at Ashwini Layout in Ejipura for almost 15 years.
WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?
A simple Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative last month helped clean a segment of the primary drain adjacent to Ejipura slum, along the Koramangala valley. It's hard to miss drain work in the city. A majority of them started in a big way but even years later, are `still in progress'. Surprisingly, not many residents of the area are even aware of this drain work.
The three-week operation by Mantri Developers had over 10,000 cubic metres of garbage, debris and silt removed from this stretch. The operation was conducted on 24/7 basis; debris was removed during the day and transported at night.
WHAT LIES AHEAD?
Part of the BBMP's Sahyog initiative, this pilot partnership with CREDAI- Karnataka could go a big way in unclogging more drains. Even the drying of lakes and choked roads could see a way out with corporate partnership.
The BBMP is now working with CREDAI-K on the Kempambuddhi lake. "The specifics are yet to be worked out. But it's been encouraging to see an increasing number of corporates approaching us to take up civic work in problem areas. We are also working with other organizations like City Connect on areas like Hudson Circle and Central Silk Board Junction," BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena told TOI.
