A maze of narrow roads and open sewers

A maze of narrow roads and open sewers
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Sriramanagar, situated off the Airport Road, has the privilege of having Kemp Fort as its immediate neighbour. But as far as civic amenities are concerned, it is one of the unfortunate localities of Bangalore City.

There are around 500 families at Sriramanagar. Most of them belong to the economically weaker sections. It is not that there are no affluent people in the locality who have renovated their dwellings to three floors.A few of them have even converted their houses into commercial shops to earn more income.

It is not clear how these selected people got sites in this locality when the authorities were meant to allot sites only for SC, STs and the economically weaker sections.

With no one following the regulations while constructing new houses or renovating the existing ones, the roads have become narrow. It’s difficult even for a tempo to enter a road. These roads are like single railway tracks where a train has to wait till the other train reaches the station.

Though there is a UGD facility, many open drains pose a health hazard for the residents. During the monsoon, residents have to be extra cautious to prevent the drain water entering their houses. The disadvantage of this locality is that local politicians or councillors only pay visits during the elections.

“Many people are suffering from fever due to unhygienic conditions in this area,” says Kondamma, a housewife.

The BWSSB has laid water pipes a few years ago but supplies water only in the night. If any one goes a bit deeper into the locality there are choked drains and uncleared garbage. “Though there is a facility to connect waste water to the underground drains, many people do not want to do it since it involves spending money.

So they let waste water into open drains which are full with silt and garbage,” complains Keshava, a resident.

The existence of wine shops are a menace. Though there are not many clinics or medical shops or schools, there is seems to be no shortage of wine shops.