Residents complain of poor infrastructure

INTERACTION BETWEEN PANEL AND PUBLIC
Residents complain of poor infrastructure
Deccan Herald

Over 35 representatives from residential associations brainstormed on issues like drainage, garbage, road maintenance and traffic management with Captain Raja Rao and Jai Prasad, the two panel members.

Neighbourhood issues took centrestage at the interactive meeting between the members of the High Court appointed committee on road works and residents, on Saturday.

Over 35 representatives from residential associations brainstormed on issues like drainage, garbage, road maintenance and traffic management with Captain Raja Rao and Jai Prasad, the two panel members.

“The question is not of roads, it is of infrastructure. The real infrastructure of the city is under the roads, where water and power lines run. Each time there is a water problem, the roads are dug up, undoing all the development work. The upgradation projects have no provision for how repair works of service providers will be conducted without cutting the road,” pointed out Major Kapoor, a resident of Koramangala.

Calling for greater coordination agency, several residents asked the panel to recommend creation of a coordinating body that will ensure that road works are taken up without any clash of interests with other service providers.

Power

Views on decentralisation, accountability and greater powers at the ward level were echoed by representatives of Citizens Welfare Association of Richmond Town and Langford Town and BTM Residents Welfare Association. “Citizens should be empowered as they are the real stakeholders. There should be obligatory discussions with residents before road works are taken up at any ward,” demanded Y V Ashok Narayan of Banashankari Residents Association.

Meanwhile, the committee members promised that their suggestions will be incorporated in their fifth and final report that will be submitted to the High Court in the coming months.

PANEL RECOMMENDS

* Important junctions should have rainwater recharging facilities

* Residents’ associations should adopt roads and footpaths in their ward

* Provide property tax rebate to those who take up road maintenance

* Work of contractors should be regulated

* Coordination with police during road laying

* Associations should streamline garbage collection

* Single window agency for selection of roads for upgradation