Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Long-time residents of Prakruthi Township in Horamavu experienced a rude shock on Monday when the local BBMP engineers called their protest against BBMP’s civic apathy a “publicity stunt”.
On Monday morning, residents lined along the Babusapalya Main Road to protest the pothole-riddled, unmotorable road and blocked roadside drains that caused sewage water to overflow and stagnate on the roads. They stood on the broken footpath with posters, demanding justice, and floated paper boats in the sewage water that filled the road.
“It was very disturbing to see the BBMP major roads division Executive Engineer Bhagyamma and Assistant Executive Engineer Manjunath behave that way, telling us that we were protesting for publicity. We avoided escalating things because we didn’t want to cause anyone any trouble, but just highlight our troubles as residents,” said Messiah Lance, a resident.
These residents have long been alleging private party involvement in their drinking water supply and inaction by local BBMP officers but to no avail.
Varkey Thomas, a senior citizen, said that the BBMP officials at the protest site said they were not aware of this issue.
“How is that possible? We have been writing to them for nearly two years. This is not a recent issue,” he said. After rounds of discussion, the BBMP engineers assured fixes within 15 days.
Residents alleged that when they submitted a file to D K Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister, at a Janaspandana event earlier this year, the now suspended AE Ramesh K simply closed the file and ignored their plea.
“This is MLA Byrathi Basavaraj’s responsibility. All we are asking for is for the BBMP to take back the power, ensure equitable supply of drinking water, clearing of drains, and fixing of roads, so that no local leader, regardless of party, is controlling the show,” the residents said.
Residents informed the BBMP officials that they are planning to crowdfund and fix the broken drain and road themselves should nothing happen within the assured timeframe.