BANGALORE: : The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Commissioner, K. Jothiramalingam, on Monday directed all the zonal deputy commissioners to hire private gang men and purchase equipment to tackle rain damage in their jurisdiction.

The Commissioner was responding to complaints from members of the BMP Council at its meeting. He said the zonal deputy commissioners need not wait for permission to buy equipment such as pumping motors, telescopic pruners and mechanised saws. "I will send written orders to all the deputy commissioners to take up rain relief measures, even if the cost goes up to Rs. 10 lakhs in each zone. All that we want is people should not suffer because of heavy rain," the Commissioner said.

Mr. Jothiramalingam said BMP will take the help of the Fire Force to remove trees that fall during rain. "We have equipment to clear small trees. But if big trees fall, we need electric saws to cut them, which the Fire Force has. We have already met the Fire Force officials and discussed the matter with them," he said.

Pointing out that damage will be more if the city receives more than 50 mm. of rainfall, the Commissioner said the discharge system in the city cannot carry heavy load. He said low-lying areas adjoining the Koramangala and Challaghatta valleys are the worst-hit during rain because the gradient there is less unlike in the Vrishabhavathi Valley.

Work on remodelling the Koramangala Valley has begun and work on the remaining three valleys will be taken up soon, he said.

Giving details of the trees damaged during the recent spells of rain, the Commissioner said 41 trees were uprooted and 67 branches fell in the BMP West Division.

While 165 trees were uprooted in the South, 66 fell in the East Division.

Earlier, members cutting across party lines complained that the BMP's rain-relief squads did not have adequate men and material to respond to the situation.

"When we call up the deputy commissioners, their excuse is that they do not have motors to pump out rain water that had entered houses. What is the use if officials arrive at the spot? They should have enough equipment and men to tackle the situation," B.R. Nanjundappa, Leader of the Opposition, said. Padmanabha Reddy (Janata Dal-United), and B.M. Mangala (Bharatiya Janata Party) supported him.

While the Gurappanapalya corporator, K. S. Samiullah, demanded that each ward should be given a water pumping motor, several others complained that the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) authorities did not respond to citizens' complaints about electric poles falling on their houses. "Even such areas as Jayanagar have gone without power for three days," the Jayanagar corporator, B. Somashekar, said.

All the members wanted the Mayor, R. Narayanaswamy, to seek additional grants of Rs. 10 crores from the State Government to deal with rain-related emergencies.

Snakes

The Basavanagudi corporator, B. S. Satyanarayana, wanted the Commissioner to hire people to rescue snakes that had strayed into houses following the rain.

Officials honoured

The Council felicitated the Engineer-in-Chief, Ramegowda, the Chief Engineer (East), M.D. Kaleemulla Khan, and the Medical Officer of Health, Kalligud, who will retire on Tuesday.

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