EXCLUSIVE: Why Manyata Tech Park floods every monsoon; govt report exposes encroachments, lapses

Nagawara’s Manyata Tech Park and surrounding areas have faced repeated flooding with every heavy rain, severely impacting daily life and traffic. Following a major inundation in May, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar personally inspected the area on May 29. Acting on his directive, revenue and BBMP officials conducted a thorough site inspection and have now submitted a detailed, damning report that reveals the real causes of the recurring floods  and offers a roadmap for future action.

Also Read:Bengaluru flats sold using fake identity: Rs 1.9 crore loan scam busted

What the survey reveals: Unchecked encroachments & systemic oversight

The core finding is that multiple private companies,  including M/s Karle, M/s Manpho, M/s Manyata, and M/s Ebisu Tech Parks Pvt Ltd  have encroached upon rajakaluves  (stormwater drains), buffer zones, and natural water channels by constructing buildings illegally over them. These encroachments have blocked natural water flow, leading to severe waterlogging.

State’s own mistakes exposed

Shockingly, the report also reveals that the Karnataka government itself sold off portions of stormwater drains in 2020 under Section 69A of the amended KLR Act, 1964. These lands were sold to private firms like M/s Karle for development. According to the Act, such drains and water channels , even when converted from agricultural land cannot legally be blocked or diverted.

Negligence by KIADB and Town Planning authorities

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) and local town planning authorities failed to prioritize natural water flow during planning and layout approvals. While approving building plans and industrial layouts, officials ignored existing drain networks and buffer zones, violating land and environmental norms. The report categorically states that neither KIADB nor planning authorities have the legal authority to approve construction over or realignment of natural drains.

Temporary measures not enough- A structural redesign needed

The report rejects Manyata Tech Park’s defense that deploying pumps or sumps to remove stagnant water is a viable solution. Instead, it recommends a natural slope-based design that connects the internal stormwater drains of the tech park to the main rajakaluve (stormwater drain) flowing from Nagawara Lake to Kalkere Lake. The report emphasizes that this connection is essential for sustainable flood mitigation.

Key recommendations in the report

• Restore all natural drains and stormwater channels based on original government records and revenue maps.
• Design and build new drainage lines according to government-approved plans.
• Private firms must provide land free of cost and also bear the full construction cost of the new drains.
• No major demolitions are needed; drains can be built along the boundaries of existing structures.
• The new human-made drain must be designed to carry water into the larger rajakaluve with proper width and slope.
• Manyata Tech Park’s argument that slope prevents construction is rejected by the report as baseless.
• BBMP and the state government must enforce this plan with immediate effect.

Why the situation reached this point

• Buildings have been constructed over former agricultural lands, disrupting natural water flow.
• Satellite imagery used to identify encroachments is unclear, making enforcement challenging.
• KIADB and planning bodies failed to verify water pathways before approving layouts.
• Natural stormwater drains were ignored during infrastructure planning, violating Section 95 of the KLR Act.

Conclusion: A wake-up call for urban governance

This report doesn’t merely highlight technical solutions,  it points to deep flaws in urban planning, bureaucratic negligence, and unaccountable land dealings. It urges urgent corrective action not just for Manyata Tech Park, but as a precedent for future developments across Bengaluru.