For 14 years, BCC staff make the park their home

For 14 years, BCC staff make the park their home
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Bangalore City Corporation park at Arundathinagar had the distinction of being inaugurated by the then Information and Sports Minister Gundu Rao on January 1, 1975. It was an ideal location for children to play and elders to relax.

Everything was going on smoothly till 14 years ago when the BCC advised 86 pourakarmika families to put up temporary shelters in the park to facilitate the construction of new quarters.

If given the park’s pathetic condition today, the late Gundu Rao must be turning in his grave. The BCC, which gave the pourakarmikas Rs 500 to put up temporary sheds, constructed quarters for them. But they refuse to vacate the park, saying the new quarters are not well constructed and lack basic facilities. Ironically, it falls under the Gandhinagar Assembly segment represented by Dinesh Gundurao, the son of R. Gundu Rao.

According to Kullayappa, vice-president, Arundathinagar Welfare Association, the BCC had promised to build each quarter measuring 30x30 sq-ft, but it has not honoured its commitment. ‘‘They allotted us a single room measuring 15x15 sq ft. They constructed the toilet inside the room,’’ he says. These quarters were constructed by the BCC and Slum Clearance Board. The occupants were asked to pay Rs 64,000 towards the cost of construction. The Sewerage Board has not bothered to provide proper drainage so that most of the sewage lines are clogged.

Narrow lanes, leaky ceilings and weak walls with a number of cracks are the salient features of the ‘new’ quarters. Surprisingly, the BCC or the Slum Clearance Board has never bothered to think about the privacy of the occupants.

The unhygienic conditions at the entrance of the temporary shelters makes it difficult for anyone to enter. A lack of toilets force children to use the footpath to defecate. ‘‘There are only six toilets for 86 families,’’ Kullayappa said.

These families are ready to vacate the park provided the BCC dismantles the ‘new’ quarters and constructs better ones. But will the BCC do it?