The flaws in the Smart City initiative in Belgaum have been laid bare by three consecutive days of one-hour rainfall starting from Saturday. Merely an hour of daily rainfall has revealed the poor condition of waste management, roads, and drainage infrastructure in the city. The rainfall has validated public claims that substantial funds have been misused without implementing an effective drainage system.
For approximately an hour, commercial and residential areas in various parts of Belgaum, including Maruti Galli, Kadolkar Galli, Khanjar Galli, Pangul Galli, Bhendi Bazaar, Old PB Road, and Shahpur, were inundated, leading to significant damage. Residents are worried about enduring the entire monsoon season under these conditions. The failure of Corporation officials and elected representatives to resolve the problem has deeply frustrated the citizens.
According to officials from the Belgaum City Corporation (BCC), the issue of rainwater has been deteriorating annually due to numerous drains and canals being encroached upon in various locations. They emphasize that corporators and MLAs need to collaborate across party lines to address the drainage problem effectively. Mayor Savita Kamble mentioned ongoing discussions about implementing a lasting solution to prevent sewage water from inundating roads, residences, and businesses, assuring that prompt measures will be taken.
In reaction to extensive destruction caused by continuous heavy rainfall, the Belgaum City Corporation has promptly set up four specialized rescue helpline squads to manage disaster relief operations. Municipal Commissioner P. N. Lokesh declared the creation of these teams, ensuring that every divisional office in the city has its own dedicated Disaster Response Team.
Each team, consisting of 11 members led by a designated leader, will be tasked with swiftly responding to emergencies within their designated subdivisions during severe weather conditions. The designated leaders for each team are as follows:
- North Sub-Division 1: Sachin Kamble,(Contact: 8867295104)
- North Sub-Division 2: Ankit, (Contact: 8892580045)
- South Sub-Division 1: Parshuram, (Contact: 9538477634)
- South Sub-Division 2: Kiran Mantrikeri (Contact: 9449731560
The teams comprise junior engineers from the construction department, environmental engineers, health inspectors, revenue inspectors, and bill collectors. The Commissioner’s directive requires team members to promptly address any reported damage or emergencies resulting from unfavorable weather conditions.
The decision comes after the recent pre-monsoon rains, which caused Belgaum residents to face challenges due to insufficient municipal response as the corporation was engaged in election duties. The Commissioner conducted a personal assessment of the damage on Monday, addressing citizens’ concerns and evaluating the urgent requirements for relief and restoration.
Residents are encouraged to immediately notify their divisional offices of any rain-related problems, ensuring swift response from the recently established rescue teams. This proactive step represents the Municipal Corporation’s inaugural formation of specialized rescue units in anticipation of impending monsoon rains, aiming to minimize the city’s vulnerability to such calamities.
