Basic facilities yet to make a landing at Devanahalli

Basic facilities yet to make a landing at Devanahalli

Deccan Herald

Devanahalli legislator G Chandranna’s report card reads - a wealth of goodwill from his constituents. And that is despite common knowledge that not an iota of work has been done in the last six months.

A sericulture farmer at Harohalli summed it best: “He (Chandranna) is a good man. He did a lot of work during his earlier term (1994-98 late J H Patel regime). Perhaps because of the coalition arrangement he has not been able to do anything this time.”

Devanahalli constituency comprises of five Zilla Panchayats - Jala, Channarayapatana, Kundana, Bijavarakshetra, Sulibele; two Town Municipal Councils - Vijipura and Devanahalli and 33 gram panchayats.

Unlike most other Assembly segments under Bangalore, the larger part of Devanahalli constituency falls under rural limits. Sericulture, vegetable farming, grape cultivation and milk production are the major occupations among the nearly 3.5 lakh populace.

Despite its agricultural occupations, Devanahalli has been almost always short of water both for irrigation and drinking purposes. In Devanahalli town limits water supply is reportedly almost once in 10 to 12 days. About 30 of the total 76 borewells in the town have failed, another 12 gives only salt water, noted a senior citizen of the area. That proper water supply has been ensured to four residential extensions which came up only recently, while things continue to ail in the old town limits is another grouse.

Farmers noted that in most places they have to drill as deep as 1000 ft to strike water. Legislator Chandranna while acknowledging that borewells have failed in many areas, also pointed out that water problem in his constituency is such that nearly 50 villages are in urgent need of borewells.

Voltage fluctuations combined with the recent revert to six hours load shedding has also affected agricultural activities. Transformers fail often, but they are not replaced immediately; work on a 66 kv power sub station was completed sometime ago, but it is yet to be put to use. ‘It is being unnecessarily delayed on the excuse of departmental inspection’ noted a farmer.

Elsewhere, some farmers in Baijanapura, Hagalkotte, Raisandra, Bettakote, Ramanahalli and Battaramaranahalli have been awaiting compensation on their land that was acquired to facilitate a link road between Devanahalli and Bangalore. The link road was necessitated after the Aneshpura - Bundegere road stretch was marked within the boundary of the international airport project. About 73 acres were acquired for the link road and the government sanctioned a total of Rs 5 crore as compensation, the farmers are yet to receive a pie. These farmers were forced to sit by and watch while neighbours and the rest of their community recently reaped one harvest.

About the state of roads in Devanahalli, the lesser said the better. The Golden Quadrilateral work on NH 7 which was in brisk pace around the last elections seem to be dragging on, link road work related to the airport is also on, but the interconnecting roads and transport facilities between villages are matters to be lamented.

The long pending dreams of a mini Vidhana Soudha, a building to house the JMFC court and industrial area status all continue to maintain their status quo. Mr Chandranna is incidentally the only legislator representing the ruling coalition partner JD(S) in the 16 Assembly segments in Bangalore. Meanwhile except for Sulibele and Kundana Zilla Panchayats the rest of the local bodies in Devanahalli constituency are dominated by the Congress. Some of the latter are Jala, Channarayanapatna, Vijawarakshetra - ZPs, Vijipura and Devanahalli TMCs. Devanahalli’s claim to fame are many. The taluk is the largest producer of milk and vegetables in the State.

It is the birth place of Mysore Tiger Tippu Sultan and a monument marking the same stands near the ill-maintained Devanahalli Fort.

One of the largest Jain temples in these parts is also located here. It also houses the as many as five engineering colleges. Thanks to the international airport project, a piece of land once priced Rs 3 lakh today fetches Rs 25 lakh or more. It is but a treasure trove waiting to be tapped.

The wait for all purposes then is the translation of the goodwill of the Devanahalli constituents to a gesture in return by their legislator.

VOTERS’ VOICE

Jagadish, businessman from Bettahalasur: Because of road work here (NH-7) accidents seem to have increased. Our MLA does not reside here, so he cannot know our problems.

Gopal, petrol bunk attendant at Chikkajala whose family of eight are all labourers: MLA has been visiting here on and off. Sanitary lines are just being laid in our area. He is approachable.

Srinivas, a businessman at Kannamangala: Land prices have improved because of the International Airport project. There is power fluctuations too.

Gowrayya, retired government servant: I have no complain or compliment. Some time ago there was talk of move to acquire space in the radius of 200 ft Tippu Sultan birth memorial.


CHANDRANNA’S CLAIM

* Rs 10 lakh was released for pothole filling and the work is completed in many places.
*A Rs 3 crore proposal for an Inspection Bungalow at Devanahalli headquarters has been approved. We need them to keep pace with the International Airport.
* About 4 acres and 2 guntas has been allotted for mini Vidhana Soudha. The tender process will start once the 1/3rd grant (Rs one crore) is released. The work can be expected to start in January-February.
* A Rs 13 crore KPTCL substation started functioning in Jala hobli. It has solved the voltage fluctuation problem in about 70 villages.
* Proposals for road works under various work heads has been submitted to the PWD department.
*Efforts are on to tap the tourist value in Devanahalli fort and Tippu birthplace area.