BANGALORE: While some areas falling under Lingarajpuram ward under Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are maintained well, some areas need immediate attention from the authorities concerned. Lingarapuram which was once a village, gradually changed into a city some years ago, due to the increasing urbanisation.
When City Express visited the ward, some areas like Kariyanapalya seems to be moving towards development with well planned concrete roads, and sewage lines under it. The ward seemed to be free from the menace of garbage waste strewn all over the locality. But this ward too has water scarcity issues.
Megha Raj, a civil engineer told City Express, “Water is supplied to us either once in a week or twice. Other than this we do not have any big issue in the ward.”
Megha Raj further said that his members at home did not feel the heat of water shortage as they entirely depend on borewells for water.Lakshmi, a house maker and a resident of Ramachandra Layout had the same water shortage issue to share with City Express. “We’re let water only once in a week. Earlier we were supplied water on Wednesdays, now we’re getting it on Saturdays.”
But as observed during our visit, we found that the storm water drain works is being delayed, posing serious threat to the passerby. The drain do not have any grill or wall to protect others from falling into it accidentally.Many school children were found playing around it on their way back to home. The works has to speed up before any children or old aged citizen falls into it accidentally. The nearby residents also complained that the works have been taken up almost a year ago, but failed to complete on time.
When City Express contacted the area corporator Lavanya Ganesh Reddy she said, “I have already constructed 20 borewells to overcome the water woes. In the coming days I will be constructing 5-10 more borewells. I know this is not the solution but Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board(BWSSB) officials are not cooperating with us. People are facilitated with Cauvery connection but water level is not good, it will take at least two years for this issue to sort out.” On the developmental projects in the ward, she said, “Last year `15 crore was sanctioned for the developmental works in the ward. This year `5 crores is estimated, out of which, two and half crore is sanctioned. I will be constructing 8-10 houses for the minorities, about 27 for the backward classes.” She concluded, “I am looking forward to construct a BBMP school also. Apart from these, I will put the fund to develop the drainage system and asphalt the roads.”