The problems of Bellandur ward are as big as the Bellandur lake itself, the biggest water body in Bengaluru.
Like an underdeveloped baby, Bellandur is struggling to meet the standards of ‘Global City’ Bengaluru, although it takes pride in having major infotech, biotech and BPO firms, which generate substantial revenue for the government. Water crisis, bad roads, underdeveloped pockets, absence of streetlights, stray dogs, sewage, stinking lakes and mosquito menace are prevalent in Bellandur.
On Saturday, the residents of the ward got an opportunity to air their grievances when Deccan Herald and its sister publication Prajavani organised Janaspandana, an interactive programme for residents, officials and public representatives.
Despite the bandh, the programme had a substantial presence of residents and officials. Vijay from Ambalipura Residency complained about the exorbitant prices of water supplied through tankers. He said that the BWSSB and the BBMP had not discharged their responsibilities, forcing him to buy water supplied through tankers.
“We are paying Rs 650 for each tanker of water up from Rs 300 a year ago. The BBMP and other agencies must provide some amount of water free of cost,” said Vijay. The BWSSB expressed its inability to meet the demand as the residential complex is outside its jurisdiction.
As Vijay complained about traffic congestion on Aralur Road, BBMP officials informed him that a grade separator was a must, for which a proposal has been sent to the Major Roads division of BBMP.
The residents of Sobha Developers complex too complained about the water crisis in their area.
Nagesh Urs of the residential complex said, “The BWSSB is supplying only seven per cent of our water requirement and we are forced to buy water through tankers.”
S Naveen, a BWSSB official, informed the gathering that the BBMP had agreed to pay Rs seven crore to the BWSSB to upgrade infrastructure for the water connections. But only Rs one crore was released, due to which many areas still face a water crisis.
Ravi of Yamalur asked the officials to consider building a bridge between Yamalur and Bellandur to ease traffic congestion. Another resident Srinivasachari of Bellandur complained about the lack of public toilets, while Hill Top Layout resident Krishna rued the absence of streetlights and lack of water. Aravind Limbavali, the local MLA, assured them that he would visit the place next week.
Harish Babu of Doddamma Temple Road complained about the traffic problem on the Outer Ring Road. He also raised the issue of encroachment of Bellandur lake, Soulkere lake, Varthur lake and their feeder canal (Rajakaluve).
The MLA said there was a series of meetings with the BDA officials who have agreed to upgrade the Bellandur lake so that it can fulfil the requirements of water starved regions of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts. In this regard, he and the local MP had a meeting with Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, who has agreed to the proposal in principle, the MLA said.
Lakshmisha of Vivekananda Vedike said, “The entire ward is in a mess. We were happy eight years ago, when Bellandur was merged with BBMP. But today, roads, pavements, underground drains and streetlights are in bad shape while water crisis, stray dog menace, mosquito menace, encroachment of lakes and Rajakaluve have made people’s lives miserable”.
Another resident Vasudeva Reddy said that a large tract of government Kharab land (B Kharab land) in Ambalipura and Begur have been encroached upon.
He drew the attention of officials towards the encroachment of Iblur lake. “The lake is spread over 22 acres and six guntas in government records, but the BDA reduced it to 18 acres and five guntas. The government agencies, including BDA, erased this lake from the Comprehensive Development Plan. This is a big conspiracy,” said Reddy.
Lakshmi, another resident, wanted pavements to be improved and trees planted on both sides of the road.