BENGALURU: Among the many civic issues haunting Kammanahalli, one is the lack of a government hospital. Although a primary health centre has been built, officials refuse to make it functional until the MLA inaugurates it since it was built from his fund. The nearest government hospital is Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, over 7km away.
D V Munurao, a social worker from the area, pointed out other major problems in the area -- inadequate supply of Cauvery water, poor traffic management, absence of public toilets and bad quality of interior roads. Several other residents reiterated these problems.
Residents confirmed that Cauvery water was only supplied for about an hour two days a week. When Express checked a few interior roads, some were found to be in bad shape with asphalt left on only a small part of the road.
M Raghuram, another resident, said, “As there are no public toilets anywhere in the ward, shopkeepers are forced to urinate in the open.” Munurao said the corporator has been notified of these issues several times, but to no avail.
“It is difficult to even meet her. I don’t think she visits the ward. The most ironic part is that Bengaluru Development Minister K J George was elected from this area,” Munurao says.
The traffic issues faced by the residents here are mainly due to the narrow Maruti Nagar flyover, a major road that sees traffic snarls every day.
Munilakshmamma, councillor of Kammanahalli ward no. 28, acknowledged all the issues that the residents had brought up. She said she is handicapped by lack of funds. “Our ward was allotted only Rs 1.25 crore by the BBMP in 2015-16. I am aware of the issues. With more money allotted this year, several projects have been taken up now.” She said asphalting work has begun on the interior roads and two toilets are being constructed.
Jayram, who assists the councillor, said this year the government has granted Rs 2.1 crore, which is insufficient. They have applied for an additional grant of `10 crore from the state. He said residents call him throughout the day complaining about water shortage. Bemoaning the BBMP system, he said the approval of even a simple project involves tedious and time-consuming procedure.