BENGALURU: Acknowledging his government’s failure in managing Bengaluru’s infrastructure for heavy rainfall, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has said that an Rs 3,000 crore loan would be taken to implement disaster management plans in the rain-battered city.
After visiting the site of an under-construction building that collapsed on Tuesday night, resulting in eight deaths, Siddaramaiah said, “Both the previous and current governments have failed to develop infrastructure capable of withstanding such extreme situations. We will now allocate Rs 3,000 crore for disaster management and make necessary changes.”
Widespread criticism
Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar have faced criticism from the public and corporate sector for neglecting issues like potholes, broken roads, waterlogging, overflowing drains, and severe traffic congestion.
“The government must be equipped to confront the fury of nature and manage the aftermath. Rescue operations are underway, and we will take our responsibilities more seriously in the future,” the CM assured.
‘Bengaluru resembles Venice, not Singapore’
The ruling Congress party is under fire from the opposition regarding the city’s infrastructure amid ongoing heavy rains and waterlogging.
Union minister and former CM HD Kumaraswamy, criticised the Congress government for its handling of the situation, saying that Bengaluru now resembles Venice rather than the Singapore they had promised to emulate.
“They claimed they would transform Bengaluru into Singapore, but we are witnessing a Venice-like scenario where people are navigating in boats,” he said.
The opposition BJP too slammed the state government for the potholes in the city.
“Residents are expressing their frustration over the Congress government’s failure to address the pothole crisis. Dangerous potholes dominate in DCM DK Shivakumar’s ‘Brand Bengaluru.’ Dear Bengaluru development minister Shivakumar, please prioritise solving Bengaluru’s problems,” the BJP Karnataka unit posted on ‘X’.
