A drain of residents patience

BANGALORE: Perhaps, R Narayana Swamy, former Mayor who represents Jalahalli Ward, is one of the few elected representatives of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to oversee the clearing of garbage. It may not be an exaggeration to say that majority of residents of Jalahalli Ward have no complaints against the Corporator. However, the cleaning of open drains is far from satisfactory. Many drains need immediate attention from  the BBMP authorities as the drains on the 3rd cross are choked with sand and waste material. This is blocking the smooth flow of waste water. “We have no complaints against Corporator Narayana Swamy. He visits our area at least once a week. He had also taken up a lot of development works,’’ said K P Prem, a resident of Sharadamba Nagar.The residents complain that it has become difficult for them use the main road during the peak hours. “There are three well-known schools in this ward. All the school buses and vehicles have to pass through this road. So, we want the traffic police to regulate the movement of the vehicles on this road. The authorities concerned should put up elevated pathways for the benefit of pedestrians,’’ said Aruna, a housewife.The cleaning of garbage at HMT quarters is not at all satisfactory. One can see heaps of garbage in open drains. “The pourakarmikas are not clearing the garbage on regular basis. I have also complained to the Corporator to  replace the  street lights but in vain. These street lights have not been working for a year,’’ said Sannamma, a resident of second sector  of HMT Quarters.Areas such as Ayyappa Temple, Siddhartha Nagar, Katha Nagar, Bhovi Colony, Jalahalli, Sharadamba Nagar and HMT Quarters are some of the important areas of Jalahalli Ward. The BBMP allocated Rs 2.50 crore last year to take up various development works in Jalahalli Ward. “Many open drains were strengthened last year and importance was given to garbage clearing,’’ said Corporator Narayana Swamy.Swamy said, “BBMP paid `30 lakh to the railways to lay a new sanitary line. They will take up development of footpath on BEL Road and have also been constructing a ground water tank with an estimated cost of  Rs 3 crore to store 5 lakh litres of water at Bhovi Colony. It will mitigate water woes in Jalahalli Ward,’’ said the Corporator. He also added that the BBMP has allocated Rs 2 crore to take up development works this year.  As far as clearing garbage is concerned, he said, “Jalahalli Ward needs 120 pourakarmikas to keep it free from garbage. But as of now there are only 60 pourakarmikas. It is difficult to clear the  garbage at various areas with  mere 60 pourakarmikas.’’

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