Lack of water, plenty of garbage and no development work

Lack of water, plenty of garbage and no development work

Deccan Herald

Hoskote Assembly constituency, located 20-25 km from Bangalore, does not project itself as a constituency which is on the road to development.

Problems, in fact, are many but drinking water crisis tops the list. “Water crisis is severe in March and April,” said Muniraju, a resident of Hoskote. Bad roads, mosquito menace and the lack of proper drainage system have added to the woes of the residents. In fact, the condition of roads in most areas, especially Ganigarpet, has progressed from bad to worse owing to lack of maintenance, the residents said.

The Hoskote Assembly constituency (with about 2.25 lakh voters), which comes under Bangalore North Parliamentary constituency, comprises nearly 330 villages, besides certain urban pockets of Hoskote town.

Also called the mini-Bihar of Karnataka due to the intense rivalry between political parties and their supporters, group clashes due to political rivalry is said to reach its peak during elections here.

For now, first-time MLA M T B Nagaraj is besieged with complaints of lack of water supply, bad roads and improper drainage system. “Our MLA is accessible. But he has not been able to solve the drinking water problem faced in many parts of the constituency,” is what the residents say.

Increased movement of vehicles on Hoskote Main Road has resulted in a number of accidents, they said, adding that a road widening project needs to be taken up immediately.

As far as the residential areas are concerned, the main problem is that of garbage clearance. ‘We have complained to the authorities concerned to clear the garbage near the anganwadi centre in Ganigarpet. But no action has been taken as yet,” said Munegowda, a resident. The open field near the anganwadi centre has become a garbage dumping yard, he added.

Besides, residents also complain about drains getting clogged in many residential areas during the rainy season, posing a health hazard. To add to the list is the infrastructure facilities which need to be upgraded in Hoskote, they added.

Meanwhile, farmers in Nandagudi and the surrounding villages complain of erratic power supply. “There are frequent power cuts in and around Nandagudi, which affects agricultural production,” said a farmer. The government should take steps to ensure at least 12 to 16 hours of power to rural areas, he added.

Admitting that bad roads and lack of water supply are the major grievances of the citizens, the MLA said. “I am trying my best to address these issues”. Nearly 35-40 of the 320 villages in the constituency are in urgent need of borewells. Lack of funds is coming in the way of taking up developmental works, he said. “I have written to Chief Minister N Dharam Singh to take measures and to immediately sanction Rs 35 lakh for undertaking road repair works and for ensuring supply of drinking water to the affected regions,” he said.

Former MLA B N Bache Gowda said, barring certain Central government schemes pertaining to rural development which have been implemented, no new initiatives have been taken up during the past six months. “Developmental work has come to a standstill,” he said.

VOTERS’ VOICE
Shantamma, housewife, Ganigarpet: Residents are having a tough time due to lack of proper water supply. Moreover, garbage clearance is non-existent in many areas posing a health hazard for residents.

B Nagarathnamma, housewife, resident of Ganigarpet: Water is supplied once in four days, that too for half an hour only. Many residents are forced to hire water tankers to meet the drinking water requirements.

Shankarnarayan, provision store owner: Absence of a bus shelter and public toilet facility at the bus stand on Hoskote Main Road is posing hardship for passengers. A pedestrian subway near the main bus stand should be constructed to prevent accidents due to increased traffic.

N Muralidhara, SBI Hoskote Branch Manager: There is no proper drainage system. This has resulted in stagnation of water in most parts.


MTB NAGARAJ NOTES
*Focus given to development of roads.
*Thirty five borewells installed to overcome drinking water problem.
*Twenty-eight BMTC buses introduced.
*Rs 5 lakh released towards sinking borewells for Hoskote municipality.
*Desilting of tanks taken up in some areas.
*Pension being provided at the rate of Rs 50 per head every month to 1,000 poor people, including the aged and physically challenged.
*No discrimination among areas while taking up development works.