Bengaluru Rains: Karnataka High Court asks BBMP about steps taken to address potholes, waterlogging

The Karnataka High Court Thursday granted a month’s time to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to file an affidavit listing down steps it has taken as part of its annual strategy to address potholes and waterlogging on the arterial roads in Bengaluru [Vijayan Menon v. Secretary & Anr].

A bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind granted time to the municipal body after its counsel told the Court that all its “engineers were busy clearing the water” after the heavy rains in the city over the past few days.

While the BBMP sought a week’s time to file such affidavit in compliance with a previous direction issued by the Court on September 21, the bench led by Chief Justice Anjaria directed the civic body to ensure that the affidavit is filed by November 22, the next date of hearing.

The Court has been hearing and passing directions on a public interest litigation petition (PIL) that was filed in 2015 seeking action by the BBMP to ensure motorists and pedestrians in the city do not face grievances related to poor roads, potholes and waterlogging year after year.

On Thursday, the counsel for the petitioner pointed out that waterlogging was currently a “burning issue in Bangalore,” and yet the BBMP had been “missing in action.”

The BBMP however, assured the Court it will file such affidavit before the next date of hearing.