Heavy rains in city demoralize traffic

17.05.10 Mangalore : The capital city of Karnataka, no longer a cool city with a salubrious climate, has been recording high temperatures in view of population (75 lakhs), less greenery and tree shades, forests of cement structures and air pollution in recent years. When rains lash the city at night or during the day, heavy winds uproot the road-side avenue trees and they fall on electric poles or wires, disrupting power supply. There is no proper drainage worth the name, created by long Congress rule and the short JD (S) administration in the city. Only the extensions of an area and new layouts have been created all these years without basic amenities such as roads, drainage, water conservation and a power supply free of accidents. Result? Every now and then, as on Sunday evening last on Akshaya Triteeya, the triple forces of winds, rains and lighting caused the uprooting of over 50 trees, some right across the busy roads, creating traffic snarls.

The evening time is a busy hour when people leave homes for shopping and temple visits and they have to scamper to safety against breeze and rains.

The BBMP telephone receiver had strenuous time answering pathetic calls for help from low-lying flooded areas and bad drainage colonies. Trees were uprooted mostly in South and East Bangalore areas. Official counting stops at ‘54 only’ for such felled trees, but people who roam about know that over 200 trees lost their ground and fell aside. Earlier a month ago, over 500 trees had been maimed by furious winds and weak soils which could not handle large trees anymore.

A traffic disorder was created near CM’s official residence near Ashoka Hotel by a huge tree falling across the busy road. More trees fell in MG Road area and certain circular areas in Malleshwaram, Rajajinagar and Mallya road near stadium. Tree falls were reported in a dozen areas of the city, like Ulsoor and Mathikere. A huge bill board (ad sign) was blown away in gusty winds at Vatal Nagaraja Road, leading the comedian politician helpless and dumb. BESCOM engineers were crying for help to remove trees, so as to supply power to dark places.