Unplanned growth makes matters worse here

Unplanned growth makes matters worse here City Ballot Problems

K.N. Venkatasubba Rao
Wards in Bangalore South facing typical problems
— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

DAILY GRIND: Residents of Bhuvaneshwari Nagar, Uttarahalli, have to fetch water from a borewell for their drinking purpose.
BANGALORE: Residents of the seven wards of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in Bangalore South Assembly Constituency face typical problems arising out of the unplanned growth that the outskirts of the city witnessed during the real estate boom.

The disappearance of agricultural lands and mushrooming of residential layouts, both authorised and unauthorised, have put pressure on the drinking water supply system and drainage. Also, the residents have to contend with increasing vehicular movement on the narrow, dusty and unasphalted roads. To make matters worse, several houses are found to be built on revenue sites across the seven wards of the constituency.

The residents are looking forward to the early implementation of Akrama Sakrama scheme to end their civic woes. Besides, they are hopeful that the elected representatives in the BBMP Council from their wards will work to mitigate their civic problems.

Uttarahalli, Vasanthapura and Yelachenahalli wards of Bangalore South were part of the erstwhile Rajarajeshwari City Municipal Council (CMC) while Begur Gottigere, Konanakunte and Anjanapura were under the jurisdiction of the erstwhile Bommanahalli CMC.

In Uttarahalli and Vasanthapura wards, the interior roads and other civic amenities leave a lot to be desired. Except for Chikkalasandra segment in Uttarahalli, both the wards are deprived of Cauvery waters. Ironically, all the four stages of Cauvery Waters Supply Project to the city pass through Vasanthapura ward. Yet, the residents are unable to draw Cauvery waters for their consumption.

Yelechanahalli ward reminds a visitor of a village with narrow lanes. The ward, which was once Puttenahalli tank bed area, cannot escape inundation during the rainy season. Though the area depends almost entirely on private water suppliers and community borewells, revenue sites continue to be in demand, despite the inadequate civic infrastructure and the legal risks. Konanakunte ward, apart from the drinking water problems and traffic congestion, is plagued by sand mafia activities and chain snatching menace. Similarly, most parts of Begur ward are connected with each other with mud roads, except for the main road that links to the city.

Narrow roads welcome a visitor to Gottigere ward, which often hits the headlines on account of the dispute related to Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) road construction. The residents are hoping that an early settlement of the row would lead to improved civic amenities.

Anjanapura ward, with its unauthorised layouts and land disputes, is said to have become a thorn in the flesh of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Majority of the BDA site allottees have not constructed houses, leading to ruining of the roads and disappearance of sanitary pipes and street lights.