People of rain-hit areas pour out their woes to Dharam Singh

People of rain-hit areas pour out their woes to Dharam Singh

The Hindu

BANGALORE: Having just recovered from the torrential rain, the residents of New Timber Yard Layout off Mysore Road and the Police Quarters in Rajajinagar now fear the collapse of their houses. This is because of the fact that the houses are damp and there are long cracks on the walls.

The residents expressed their apprehensions and also mentioned the civic problems to Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh during his visit to the rain-affected areas of the city on Saturday. This was the fifth day that Mr. Singh was going around the areas along with Minister for Primary and Secondary Education R. Ramalinga Reddy, MLAs, MPs, and officials.

Soon after the Chief Minister arrived in the New Timber Yard Layout, which is next to the Vrishabhavati valley, a woman started pouring out the problems of the people. Ms. Jayamma said that the breach in the valley inundated her house and those of several others in the layout.

"This is not the first time that the breach has occurred. Every time we complain the authorities carry out only temporary repairs. Even if the rain is not heavy we face the threat of inundation," she said.

Gouramma said they were drinking contaminated water.

Assuring the citizens, the Chief Minister said: "Do not worry. I have brought all the officials along with me. I will see that your problems are solved," and then inspected the houses that had collapsed in the layout.

When the Chief Minister went to Police Quarters in Rajajinagar, the women expressed anguish over the dilapidated state of the quarters which houses 800 people.

"This 20-year-old quarters has been neglected; no maintenance work has been carried out. Six of the houses here have been certified as not fit for living. We have frequent power cuts and disruption in water supply," said K.V. Chandrakala, a resident.

Turning to Bangalore Police Commissioner Ajai Kumar Singh, Mr. Dharam Singh wondered why was this not brought to his notice.

The Police Commissioner replied that he had sent a proposal for carrying out repairs at the quarters and at two other places at a cost of Rs. 45 lakhs and it was pending. Mr. Dharam Singh then promised the residents that the sum would be released.

He also directed Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K. Jothiramalingam to solve the problems on water supply.