Report paints grim picture of Bangalore

Report paints grim picture of Bangalore
NDTV

Tuesday, February 14, 2006 (Bangalore):

The Centre for Sustainable Development has prepared a first of its kind Environment Report Card for Bangalore and the figures aren't very encouraging.

Travel time of commuters has increased by 75 per cent on account of traffic congestion during peak hours in Bangalore.

Field tests on pollution from motor vehicles reveal that the suspended particulate matter (SPM) is far above the prescribed norms as is the noise level in all areas.

Maintenance of storm water drains leaves much to be desired, leading at times to flooding during heavy rains.

Although door to door collection of household waste has become the norm in Bangalore, the final disposal of waste is a serious problem with not a single landfill site.

Rising concerns

There is increasing citizen dissatisfaction over the Garden City's vanishing tree cover as tree felling continues unabated across the city despite several protests from citizens.

Fifty-eight per cent of schools surveyed had no playgrounds and 53 per cent of them reported their school children suffered from allergies.

"A place which used to take 10-15 minutes to travel, something like six months back now takes half an hour. That goes onto show how things are here. We need to move on, we need to buck up and make this city much more habitable," said Gopalakrishna, chartered accountant.

But die-hard Bangaloreans like Prem Koshy is not giving up just yet.

"We are changing to be or moving to be the greatest city, I think in the world. Now one thing I know about growth and my papa has told me and I have been through, is you don't grow without some pains and that's what is happening to us.

"We are, I believe, the most connected city in the world. But the most connected city also needs good service, our environment especially our trees and cleanliness," said Koshy.

Projects delayed

Bangalore's city corporation is one of the most cash-rich in the country with a budget Rs 1,500 crore.

But delays in implementing infrastructure projects have meant that development has not taken place at the pace it was supposed to be.

"All Corporators are working in coordination. We have no problem at all. We had a problem between contractors. We had made a package of Rs 200 crore for the roads.

"We had called for the tenders eight times. Because they have not responded it was delayed. Now this month on the 8th, they have responded to the tender and we have sanctioned Rs 162 crore for the
roads," said Mumtaz Begum, Mayor, Bangalore City Corporation.

Bangalore's Report Card is grim and it is these very factors that are robbing the city of its most favoured city status.

Any further slide and it could just mean the end of the Bangalore dream.