The residents of Mathikere Ward demand the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities to facilitate regular supply of Cauvery water by convincing the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) authorities to ensure the same. Many houses in Mathikere and surrounding areas do not receive Cauvery water supply at all.
“I have to depend on another house, that has the Cauvery water connection, for water. I have been paying the owner of the house `250 per month so that I can fetch some water for daily use. Other residents and I have requested the authorities concerned to ensure water supply to our homes but in vain,’’ said L Hemavathy, a resident of Pipeline Road. Women waiting near the water tanks to fetch some water is a regular sight near Netaji Circle. Many people were seen carrying water in plastic pots on bicycles too. “It has become difficult for us but there is no other alternative since there are no borewells near my home,’’ said a resident. Many people, especially those who have lost their homes due to road-widening, complain against the apathetic attitude of the BBMP authorities. They said that the BBMP was yet to take measures to construct houses for them even after two years. “Around 40 houses were demolished in the name of road-widening and makeshift sheds were constructed under the flyover. They had promised us that they would construct houses soon but nothing has happened till date,’’ said M Wilson whose brother lost his house due to road-widening. Heaps of garbage are another cause of concern for residents. They complain that civil workers prefer to burn the garbage after dumping it near the railway track. “It has become a health hazard for us. I hope the BBMP authorities take suitable action against those civil workers for burning garbage and polluting the environment,’’ said a resident. Meanwhile, Muniswamy Gowda, Corporator, has said that there was no problem whatsoever in supplying Cauvery water in Mathikere. “Those who had not taken water connection are complaining. I expect them to submit an application to the BWSSB authorities for water connection,’’ said Muniswamy Gowda. The corporator has said that Mathikere Ward had received `7 crore for development works. “The BBMP dug thirteen borewells to mitigate water woes. And, the yield of water in all these borewells is good so far,’’ he said. As a part of development works, the BBMP had constructed one hundred twenty houses under the 22.75 per cent scheme for SC and ST families. “There is a plan to construct many more houses under the 22.75 per cent scheme,’’ he said. The corporator has also said that the BBMP has a plan to widen the road near Jayaram slum and construct two gyms at different localities in Mathikere for the benefit of health-conscious citizens.