Puttenahalli flooded with civic problems

Puttenahalli flooded with civic problems
The Times of India

Bangalore: Puttenahalli is in news whenever it rains; it gets flooded for days on end and hygiene takes a long absence.
A few days back, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy visited the

area and blasted the greedy land mafia for selling plots atop drains and on lake beds to gullible citizens. It is a perfect example of how a civic area should not be. During last year’s rain, it suffered a lot of damage due to flooding. Residents now fear that because of unseasonal rain last month, the road construction project taken up in the area will not be completed before monsoon, which will lead to another frightful year.

The road project has totally cut off the front accesses of many apartment buildings. Royal School has taken the brunt of road’s terrible condition. Archana Suresh, a teacher, says, “Due to parents’ pressure, we have moved our final exams ahead of schedule so that children need not traverse this horrifying road (14th Main). Also, there is a fear of diseases spreading due to open sewerage. We have asked a disabled child to stay at home for the past week as she can’t possibly negotiate this pathetic road with her crutches.’’

Subhashini, another resident, says, “We are planning to vacate our house because of bad roads. In the last rain, our basement got flooded and we had to pump out water. Despite owning flats, many have left the apartment. They are planning to return only after the road is repaired. The borewell water is getting contaminated, but we have to use it as we don’t get Cauvery water.”

The Brigade Group of builders is laying some of the roads. Group’s senior manager Chandramohan says, “This is a private initiative. We are spending about Rs 2.5 crore for the project, but there is no cooperation from either Bommanahalli CMC or BWSSB. We are not in a position to give official notices to encroachers, which is government duty. Better cooperation is needed.”

A N Muralidhara, a ward councillor of Bommanahalli CMC, says, “The CMC held a meeting on March 13, where the public aired their grievances. Their petitions will be sent to the CM. We will solve the problems soon and the CM too has assured us the same.” Citizens are waiting and watching.