They braved rains to pour their woes

They braved rains to pour their woes
DH News Service,Bangalore:
Braving rains, over 2,500 residents of Hebbal Assembly constituency turned up for the fourth Janaspandana programme organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani at HMT Playground in RT Nagar here on Saturday. For nearly four hours, they poured out their woes to top officials and BWSSB and IT and BT Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu. It couldnt have been more interactive.

Like the three previous Janaspandana programmes, lack of water or irregular water supply dominated the grievances of the public. Bad roads, non-removal of garbage, blocked drainages, need for parks and hospitals as well as malfunctioning traffic signals figured among the issues.

Water woes dominate

R S Arun Kumar, a resident of Nanda Gopal Layout, complained that the area has been in the throes of acute water scarcity for the past six months. “Cauvery water is not being supplied properly and the borewells do not cater to the demand”, he pointed out. Responding to the complaint, BWSSB Chief Engineer Venkataraju disclosed that tenders have been called to sink borewells and hoped that water scarcity would be tackled successfully by December end.

Similar problems were brought to the notice of the officials by a representative Nagarika Hita Rakshana Samiti and other individuals.

Katta Subramanya Naidu, who also holds the BWSSB portfolio, revealed that City has been facing short supply of water and 870 Million Litres Per Day (MLD) pumped from T K Halli is insufficient to meet the needs of burgeoning city.

“Steps are being taken to ensure supply of 500 MLD from Thorakkanahalli. We are getting only 19 tmc ft out of 30 tmc ft water under Cauvery Tribunal Award. Alternative arrangements are being explored to meet the growing water need”, he said.

Poor roads

Sampath Kumar of Vishveshvaraya Welfare Association expressed concern over the poor shape of the roads in 6th Cross, Anand Nagar as well as the road connecting the engineering college and HMT layout. He also expressed the need to construct culverts to prevent drains from choking.

Officials informed that Rs 16 cr had been earmarked in the present budget for asphalting of roads. As regards drainage, they said that steps will be taken to open the closed culverts.

They disclosed that civic utility works with an estimated cost of Rs 30 crore have been taken up in the area and the government plans to spend Rs 10 cr more. Residents of Sultanpalya requested widening of roads in their area.

Minister Naidu said that works on roads will be taken up from January next year and roads in all wards of Sanjay Nagar, RT Nagar, Ganga Nagar and Hebbal will be repaired by April or May.
Members of Rangabharana Kala Kendra sought construction of an amphitheatre as the locality lacked one. Responding to the request, Naidu cited lack of lung space in the constituency. He however promised to “explore the possibility”.

Residents also complained about water stagnation in KEB Layout and Sanjay Nagar during rainy season. BBMP officials said a sum of Rs 1.12 cr had been sanctioned to repair stormwater drains. Nrupathunga Welfare Association requested that the BDA plot now being used for dumping garbage be used for public utilities.
Stray dog menace and multiplying mosquito population in Kempaiah Layout, lack of sweepers in Muninanjappa Bloc, rash driving and consequent accidents at R T Nagar junction were some of the problems that were raised at the meet.