Not one thing is right in this area in Bangalore

For long, the Govindapura area in Nagavara ward has been facing a number of problems related to drainage, sanitation, infrastructure and water scarcity.

For three years, the area has been under the BBMP. “We have no drinking water. Borewell water is supplied once in 10 days,” rues Mohd Sadaruddin, a vegetable vendor. Ashok Kumar, who is a frequent visitor to the Corporator’s office, adds, “Drainage has not been cleaned for four months. Our complaints don’t make a difference, as our suffering has had no effect on our corporator. She remains blind to our problems.”

Another resident, Suresh says there are open, stagnated drains and sometimes children fall into them. He points out that no authority has so far come forward to close the open drains yet.

Syed Pasha, who has been living in this area for 30 years, is deeply pained. “I had never expected this from our government. This area is completely neglected. The drainage pipes were laid two-and-a-half years ago, but are not functional yet. Whenever we complain, the authorities say that they don’t have the funds to take up developmental programmes,” he says.

Highlighting the health issues in this area, a resident, Parvathi, outlines, “There have been three death cases this month alone owing to dengue and malaria, and there are many children affected by it. It is all because of one-foot-deep open drains in front of our houses. They have not been cleaned for ages.”

Says Durgamma, said, “My daughter Nirmala Devi was admitted in hospital due to dengue for a week. The hospital charges came up to Rs30,000, which is a huge amount for labourers like us.”Bribe for waterRafia Begum is aggrieved about the water supply. She elaborates, “Water is supplied rarely. Whenever it comes, the valve men asks for money before they supply it. When we pay, they open a very thin water supply for just one hour once a week. The authorities have provided one water tap for 20 houses, and our condition worsens during the weekends.”

When there is rainfall, the drainage and drinking water get mixed and residents filter that water with a white cloth and use it for drinking. Tabassum says drainage water enters the houses whenever it rains heavily.

A landlord in the area, Venkatesh, points out that there is no park, playground, library, healthcare centre or a government hospital there. Then there is the problem of traffic jam too.

Promises galoreWhen DNA asked the Sarvagnanagar corporator Irshad Begum about the problems of the people, she replies, “We have a low budget of Rs3 crore per year, because of which we cannot take up many development programmes. East Cost Construction Industry (ECCI) had taken up the sanitation work in the area with a promise of completing it in a year. It has been two years now and the work is still under progress.”

Assistant executive engineer (BWSSB), Gangadhar, assures that the work would be finished in five months. BWSSB ward in-charge Malla Reddy goes on to add that they are trying hard to get the water problem fixed. Within a week, Cauvery water supply would begin, he promises.

BBMP assistant executive engineer Rame Gowda asserts that he will arrange for 10 labourers and tractors to clear the drains within three days. Till then, the woes of the residents will keep piling up.