If I may say, Bellandur area in Bengaluru looks like land on clouds when seen from a distance while an aerial view of Chennai looks like it has substituted Venice over the last few days.
Residents from both cities have given accounts of rather different experiences during the rains this month and their message to civic authorities subtly pointing to their lack of action, has gone viral.
Almost a week after receiving continuous rains, on Monday, pictures of people from Chennai ferrying in boats in the city that has been inundated because of the rains, were doing the rounds on social media.
Some of them have even attached an extension pipe to the bike or car exhausts to avoid rainwater from entering the exhaust. While one might find this odd, this is how city dwellers are coping, as the system has failed them yet again.
The waterlogged neighbourhoods in Chennai have raised questions regarding the efficacy of the storm water drainage system and also exposed the shoddy pre-monsoon de-silting work.
While waterlogging happens in various parts of Chennai every time monsoon hits the city, frothing of Bellandur Lake in Bengaluru is a perennial issue, as the city receives rains during various months of the year.
The situation at the Bellandur lake due to the continuous rains in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/TybdePBRjX
— nolan pinto (@nolanentreeo) November 16, 2015
Part of the problem in Bellandur Lake is the lack of de-silting work and earlier this month, the foam had risen to a height of 15 feet. The froth has only increased with continuous rains.T V Ramachandra, an IISc professor, who in September this year came up with a list of solutions for Bellandur Lake frothing, said, “The lake needs de-silting. Removal of accumulated silt will help in the storage of rainwater and also recharging of ground water resources in the vicinity.”
It has become a ritual for residents of Bellandur area to put videos and pictures showing helpless commuters covered in froth.