2 corporators here, but problems remain

2 corporators here, but problems remain
One Of The Oldest Areas Of The City Craves For Development
Sunitha Rao R | TNN

Bangalore: Two corporators. Two months up. Multiple problems with no solutions in sight.
Austin Town in Viveknagar, one of the posh localities in the city, does not enjoy the luxuries of its immediate neighbour Koramangala and is crying for some attention from the corporators. For people who visit Infant Jesus Church, driving further on the same lane is not just tiresome, but a shocking revelation too as they wonder ‘Is it Bangalore?!’
Austin Town is one among the older areas of the city craving for development. Unclean roads, filthy open drainage, vanishing footpaths, uncovered storm water drain would define Austin Town better than the landmarks.
And the corporators excuse: Staff shortage. According to Syed Fasi, a shopkeeper on Anepalya Masjid Road, irregular garbage collection is the main reason for the sad state of affairs. “Firstly, the pourakarmikas don’t come regularly to collect garbage. When they don’t turn up, the residents throw the garbage on the road. Complaints have been given to the BBMP control room several times, but in vain,” he said.
Naturally, with so much garbage around and filthy surroundings, can epidemics be far behind? The area saw outbreak of dengue.
Naturally, with so much garbage around and filthy surroundings, can epidemics be far behind? The area saw outbreak of dengue.
CORPORATOR SPEAK
Bills cleared without signature
The contractor who is entrusted with garbage clearance work has been doing shabby work. Not just that. Many bills are cleared without the signature of BBMP health officials. The contractor needs to be changed. Delay in BBMP budget preparation has been a hurdle for developmental works here. R Shivkumar | SHANTALANAGAR CORPORATOR
CONTACT POINT
Are you a resident of Austin Town? Do you face the same problems or other issues in your area? Better still, have a solution to these problems discussed?
JUST CONTACT YOUR CORPORATORS
Vijay N
(Vannarpet): 9343743297
Shivkumar A N
(Shantalanagar): 9845055477 LET US KNOW
Is the corporator of your ward yet to get down to brass tacks? Is he yet to contact Residents Welfare Associations and get grievances redressed? After featuring some proactive corporators in these columns, we will now look for those corporators who haven’t done any visible work. If civic work is piling up in your surroundings, let us know.
PROBLEM &
SOLUTION
Both the corporators are unhappy with the existing garbage contractors. Only collective efforts of the duo can give a facelift to these areas. Will they act? Vijay N | VANNARPET CORPORATOR
What’s the problem here?
The skeleton staff of pourakarmikas. This is the main reason for the pathetic state of my ward. The main contractor entrusted with garbage clearance has further given the work to subcontractors. It’s totally been shabby
What is the way out?
We want three lorries and 110 pourakarmikas for regular garbage collection here. But the contractor has provided only one lorry and a manpower of 64.
What have you done about it?
I have brought it to the notice of the BBMP commissioner, but the contractor has not been changed.
Is this the only problem here?
No. The stormwater drain that runs across Austin Town was fenced six months ago. It needs to be fenced again. People have also polluted it by throwing garbage into it. To avoid this, I have plans to make a road over storm water drains.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY?
There is not much change here. We live just behind the BDA complex. But, even for the smallest issues, we need to go behind local officers repeatedly. Even before the corporators came in, we managed solving some problems ourselves. — Suryanarayana Mallya | AUSTIN TOWN FLAT ALLOTTEES’ ASSOCIATION PROBLEM AREAS
Small pocket divided into two wards Inadequate number of pourakarmikas Bills cleared without signature Irregular maintenance of storm water drains Unclean roads polluted by desilted mud from drains Poor civic sense among public