Mangaluru: Encroachments on stormwater drains is the prime reason for the flooding that marooned the city last week, revealed an interim report submitted by an expert committee set up by the district deputy commissioner, on the recent flood situation.

Giving out details about the same, deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil told the media that the report submitted on Tuesday pointed out to encroachments on major and minor stormwater drains in the city.

However, the committee has sought two more weeks to prepare a detailed study on encroachments in city areas.

“We have been clearing blatant encroachments by demolishing structures built illegally. However, we need to seek legal opinion on certain properties which have such violations,” he said, adding they will come down heavily on encroachers, once a final report is submitted.

The district administration has taken satellite images of the current city, as well as of Mangaluru since a decade ago. “We will compare these two satellite imagery and thereby find encroachments,” he said.

Senthil pointed out that the encroachments are on major storm water drains which join the Nethravati and Phalguni rivers. The water flow to Phalguni is normal, while it is haphazard to the Nethravati river.

“We will study the findings of the report, and will focus on modernizing stormwater drains, henceforth,” he added.

The first-of-its kind man-made flooding that occurred following continuous rain on May 29, had caused huge damage worth crores of rupees to the city.

Rampant encroachment of stormwater drains was cited as one of the key reasons for the disaster. It is alleged that most such drains in the city are encroached upon mainly by the builder lobby, who have bribed officials from various civic bodies and other governmental departments, over several years.

The DC had on May 30 announced the setting up of an expert committee headed by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) commissioner, to prepare a report on the flooding. A three-day deadline was given to submit the report.

However, Muda commissioner Bhaskar requested the district administration to grant additional time to bring out a detailed report.