Pulikeshinagar residents take to streets over water woes

Residents of Pulikeshinagar protested on Wednesday, demanding water. They held a procession from Tannery Road Ambedkar statue to Periyar Nagar Ashoka Circle and shouted slogans against MLA B P Prasanna Kumar.

“We get water once a week. Are we not human beings and are we not entitled for water. The government is not bothered about the poor,” said Shanthamma, a resident of the area.

They are also upset that the quality of drinking water is poor. “We get salty water and we cannot drink it. The water is dirty and we can even see dirt floating in it,” said Puttaraju a shop owner on Tannery Road.

The area stinks of garbage and there is no garbage pick-up either. The stench, the residents say, is spreading diseases. “We have mosquitoes all over the place. The area is filled with garbage as there is no collection. Our kids fall sick often,” said Rajamma, a homemaker. Marimuttu, an ex-counsellor, said, “The MLA of the area had demolished 2,700 houses to build new ones. Where should the residents go now? The MLA should have some responsibility towards the post he holds.” Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan said: “If the MLA of your area is not willing to help you solve the issues, let him resign. We will go to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and talk to the authorities and get them to sort the issue. The only way to get what you deserve is by fighting for it.”