By Qamar ZJ
Bellandur’s crumbling civic infrastructure has left the residents disenchanted with every political party. For years, the lack of proper roads and drains has led to commuting and flooding issues, but the authorities are looking the other way. Prompted by this apathy, some residents of Shubh Enclave recently pooled in the money themselves and laid the road. Enthused by this, the residents of the neighbouring Owners Court followed suit. However, the other residents are crying foul. According to the ‘Save Bellandur’ residents group, this DIY mode is setting a bad example for both the administrators and citizens. “BBMP must be overjoyed as they get tax and on top of it, there is no need to provide quality infra or basic roads! Way to go!” tweeted the ‘Save Bellandur’ group. Other residents congratulated the BBMP by saying, “The dream of being aatmanirbhar has been achieved”.
Under lockdown of a different kind
The residents are thanking both the BBMP and the BWSSB for the great roads and drains in Bellandur. “People don’t need lockdown due to coronavirus. Our municipality ensures that we are locked down in homes!” say the folks at ‘Save Bellandur’. They point to the messy avatars of Muduliar layout, KPC/Tulasi/CSB Layout, and Owners Court.
Political disenchantment
The ruling party is under attack. Bellandur resident Jagat JP says, “This time I am ready to give vote to a pig but not to BJP. The MP and MLA might be good, but you will not get my vote this time for incompetence of BBMP and BWSSB employees.” Sachin Kundapur was more categorical and blamed the MLA for the mess: “Mr Limbavali, you cannot be so lame and treat us like fools. Do you need years to get things resolved? How many times have I tweeted you to resolve the drainage and road issues at Green Ville layout. Shame on us for voting you.” He adds that there are zero door deliveries of essential goods due to this, and cab drivers are unwilling to visit the area.
Living dangerously
Residents are living precariously in these areas. Says Manoj Kumar: “Pedestrians and two-wheeler riders have to risk their lives to commute on these roads, which have been like this for years now. We pay 40% of our salary as direct and indirect taxes. Atleast we expect good infrastructure and that is also denied.”
Problems everywhere
Pawan P wants to know when the Vidya Vikas school road in Kavereppa Layout, Panathur will be fixed? Jagat says his neighbourhood near Lakeland apartment has not had a road, drain or streetlight for the last ten years. “There are manhole blocks every month and the cover remains broken for the last four months!” he says. Hema Kumar suggests that the local MLA visit the area to ascertain the sorry situation: “Please come and live here for a day… you will feel the pain of residents. Worst administration.” John Bardhan says that the civic agencies worsen the situation in the name of improving the facilities. “Folks from BBMP come and dig up the drain and then make big promises of making a proper drain and see where that leaves residents. Worst administration in the entire nation.”
The remedial measures are slow and limited
On October 21, MLA Aravind Limbavali announced that the drainage work has begun in Mudaliyar Layout, KPCL Layout and Tulasi Layout. “The road work in the areas will be started once the drain construction is completed,” he tweeted. “There is shortage of workers due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but the contractors will be told to hasten the work.”
Replying to this tweet, the ‘Save Bellandur’ group responded: “It’s been years since we’ve seen roads. The work is very slow and limited, considering the number of roads and the size of the layout. Owners court, CSB Layout need progress… even many roads in these (KPC/Tulasi etc) areas aren’t budgeted. Pls confirm on a schedule.”
The residents haven’t got a reply to that yet. However, one former corporator did pose one question to the residents: “Didn’t you know about this village and its infrastructure status when you bought the houses here?” The moral of the story? “The 110 villages of BBMP have been neglected badly, and the only reason they were included is to enable real-estate and mint money,” say the folks at ‘Save Bellandur’.
