Pathetic Infrastructure

Pathetic Infrastructure

Areas in Bangalore outskirts are witnessing growth like never before. Puttenahalli was a rural area 10 years back but now it’s buzzing with activity and the lifestyle of residents has changed drastically. One can spot food joints, super markets, huge apartments and shopping complexes catering to the needs of new-age Bangaloreans at Puttenahalli.

But civic amenities available in the area need improvement to a large extent and as there is a flip side to any development, Puttenahalli is fast becoming thickly populated and this rapid development has turned the area into a concrete jungle and a filthy paradise. The area also clearly demonstrates the ever growing gap between the haves and the have-nots.

On one hand, there are aesthetically built sky-rise apartments and on the other hand one can spot people living in sheds. While most apartment o ccupants have been provided with the best of civic amenities by their builders, the plight of commoners is a far cry.

Builders have provided apartment occupants with the best of infrastructure to lead a hassle-free life. Facilities like amphitheatres, children’s parks, bars and resta urants, tennis courts and umpteen number of other facilities are also available. They get Cauvery water too, whereas some other parts of Puttenahalli are deprived of Cauvery water supply.

However Jayanti Khatwan, owner of a boutique has nice things to say. “I love the pleasant climate of the locality. Thou gh many buildings have come up here there is still some greenery around. There are good schools for children too,” she said.

Similarly another apartment occupant Hema Srinivasa stressed that though people residing in apartments enjoy a decent lifestyle they too face certain problems. “This area suffers from mosquito menace. It’s difficult to get out of the houses during evening hours because of mosquitoes. No pest control measures have been adopted so far,” she rued.

Most internal roads in Puttenahalli are muddy, dusty, cratered and untarred. According to residents they don’t actually remember when any road repair or asphalting work took place in their locality. “Rains bring bliss to people but we curse them as we undergo great misery whenever it rains. The drainage system is pathetic too. The entire rainwater along with sewa ge water gush into our ho mes. Roads also get clo gged. Ironically we also deal with water crisis,” mourned hous ewife Saroja a resident of Puttenahalli for over thirty years.

According to retired ACP Rajanna the civic agencies have failed to deliver their duties responsibly. “In Srin idhi Layout citizens have taken the plunge to maintain the sewerage system and also managed to get borewell water. Officials assure us of help but it never comes through,” complained the senior citizen.

People depend on bore well water in the absence of Cauvery water supply. Pile up of garbage in every nook and corner of houses has become a big nuisance too. “Garbage collection vans don’t visit the area regularly.
Moreover filthy water from some plush apartments is directed towards main roads. Existing garbage along with the dirty water not only causes unbearable stench but also makes the entire area look unpleasant,” complained Raju, another resident.

Sarakki and Puttenahalli lakes too remain poorly ma intained and need immediate attention. “Necessary steps should be taken to restore the very little precious natural resources that exist in Puttenahalli today. The Sarakki and Puttenahalli lakes need to be preserved immediately. These lakes lie in a terrible state due to filthy water and weeds. They can be turned into excellent boating zones after restoration,” suggested C S Bhagwat, a localite.

Traffic jams on Puttenahalli main roads has upset residents further. Effective traffic policing on main roa ds is the need of the hour. Tho ugh the locality has seen tre mendous development for so me years now much ne eds to be done as far as civic amenities are concerned felt Pandurang N S, another resident.

However real estate pri ces are soaring in the area. Dinesh, Managing Director of Inchara Family restaurant has been around for over 13 years and assures that real estate boom in Puttenahalli is here to stay.

“Puttenahalli had rustic way of living until ten years from now. But now people have become more sophisticated and urban in their outlook. A number of restaurants have come up here and the competition among restaurateurs has increased. Other commercial establishments too have prospective customers for their business,” he said.

But residents feel that its high time civic agencies took note of civic problems and redressed their grievances.