BBMP not a panacea for citizens’ woes

BBMP not a panacea for citizens’ woes
Deccan Herald

After becoming a part of Greater Bangalore, expectations of the public in erstwhile City Municipal Councils have gone higher. But now, they are a disappointed lot.

After becoming a part of Greater Bangalore, expectations of the public in erstwhile City Municipal Councils have gone higher. But now, they are a disappointed lot. Because, according to them, the BBMP officials have not allocated sufficient funds for providing basic necessities in their areas.

Deccan Herald, with a view to check the awareness among the citizens in the CMC areas regarding the BBMP budget proposals, visited two CMCs - KR Puram and Mahadevapura on Friday. The questions posed to a cross-section of the residents were - Whether they are aware that the BBMP presented its budget last month? And, whether they are happy with the allocations made in the budget for their areas and if they are ready pay various cess.

Many said that they were aware of the budget proposals. But not sure whether their areas would get a face-lift with the allocations made. The common complaint was - there was no allocation for providing drinking water and improving roads. Roads in residential localities have not been asphalted. However, the main roads are motorable.

Dr Lakshman, Doctor, K R Puram

“The roads are not tarred. So, many residents suffer from respiratory track infection due to the dust. The worst affected are older citizens and children. Hope the BBMP will at least asphalt our roads.”

M Rama Rao, Rammurthy Nagar

We were fed up with the CMC administration. Believe it or not, Rammurthy Nagar, which comprised six wards of KR Puram CMC, has not even a single public toilet. In the 10 year-rule of CMC, neither the supply of drinking water nor the condition of roads has improved. It has already been two years since we paid our share for getting Cauvery water. As for the earlier schedule, the project would have been completed by 2005. But even the main pipeline has not been laid till day. We are hopeful that BBMP will address our problems.

Ramesh, Photographer, KR Puram

We normally get drinking water supply on every Friday. But today (Friday) till now (12.30 pm) we haven’t got water. We expected that becoming a part of BBMP we would get drinking water supply regularly. But nothing has changed. Moreover, the Palike has not made any allocation for drinking water facility in our area in the budget.

Though our home is at a distance of just 100 yards from the water pumping station there is no pressure in water supply. If this is the condition of water supply, which is a basic necessity, how can we hope that BBMP would do better?

Shekhar, Real-estate businessman, Ramamurthy Nagar

The main drainage line, adjacent to Rammurthy Nagar main road has not been cleared in the last six months. Its nauseating stink prompts people to keep themselves inside their homes. Despite several pleas, authorities in the CMC did not clear it. However, I am optimistic about the BBMP. They just can’t ignore our area when it is part of the Greater Bangalore. Moreover, BBMP has more qualified engineering staff than the CMC. I hope they would serve better.

Kanchana Bhagavat, School teacher, Mahadevapura

I am surprised by the BBMP’s move to impose additional cess, when nobody is there to clear the blockage in underground drainage lines in our locality. Blockages have been a common phenomena in our locality. At least once in a week we face this problem.

How can they ask us to pay more cess when they are not ready to address the problem. If the Palike too does not address our problem, what is the point in including us in Greater Bangalore. However, we would not hesitate to pay more if they provide us basic amenities.