The ward is among the seven in Bangalore South constituency, which is struggling for basic civic amenities.
There is a dearth of well-developed public space in Vasanthapura ward. The Cauvery second stage pipeline runs through this ward but its benefit has not reached the residents of Vasanthapura atop the hill.
The reason is simple - the houses there are on revenue land and government is not obliged to give Cauvery water connection to the illegal houses. Interestingly, the slums grew up right under the nose of the government in Vasanthapura and surrounding areas and the government turned a blind eye towards the growth of illegal settlement.
The residents of Vasanthapura slums atop a hillock get water thrice in a month that too for a brief period. A resident of Vasanthapura slum, Rajesh says the water scarcity is so grave that people leave home for their work with clothes so that they can take bath elsewhere. Those who fall sick have no other choice but remain without bath for days or weeks together.
“We get water once in ten days. The scene resembles a battle field the day water is released as everyone rushes to catch the thin flow water.,” said Nagaraj, a boy residing in Vasanthapura slums.
A Kalyani (a tank) of the Vasantha Vallabharaya Temple was a beautiful place where people used to take bath till fifteen years ago but not any more. Now the Kalyani is a breeding place of mosquitoes as no one took the pain to clean it.
The Vasantha Vallabharaya Temple and the Sai Baba temple adjacent to it have a great number of devotees visiting them and get huge amounts as donation but the two temple managements have not thought of rejenuvating the Kalyani.
The Bangalore South MLA M Krishnappa says, “The ruling BJP government has allocated a good amount for the development of the city. We are giving Cauvery line at Uttarahalli now and would soon turn to sort out civic woes in other BBMP wards of Bangalore South constituency. Our priorities are people. We will not ditch them,” said Krishnappa.
Other wards
Uttarahalli - 184
The ward is on the
development path many public works taking place.
Concrete roads are laid, street lights are in place and water connection is given to every household in this old settlement. The Shettarakere Lake is full of weeds while no effort has been made to clean it.
Yelchenahalli - 185
The area is on the road to development with tarring of roads and construction of storm water drains under progress. Garbage menace is comparatively well under control.
Begur - 192
Plagued mainly by the dust, dirt and filth. Development is gaining pace here.
Gottigere - 194
Gottigere Lake needs attention. The old settlement is also crying for developmental
activities.
Konankunte - 195
The ward is one of the dirtiest areas of the city mainly because of heavy vehicular movement and developmental activities. No system in place for garbage disposal here.
Anjanapura - 196
Anjanapura Layout is under-developed in absence of a proper approach road and its
distance from the city.