BANGALORE: Murphy Town, also called as Knoxpet, is one of the oldest towns built by the British in Bangalore.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had renamed Murphy Town after the dynasty that ruled Karnataka.
Today, it is officially called Hoysala Nagar.
However, due to innumerable civic issues surrounding the ward, the British colony is losing its charm. The sewage line gets blocked and the water overflows over the concrete roads in areas like Murphy Town 6th Cross and Jayarajnagar causing grave inconvenience to the residents. When City Express visited the ward, most residents complained of the same menace.
We also observed that there were open sewage lines in the ward, without proper covers.
"Most of the home-makers and shopkeepers line up near the tank in Jayarajnagar 'A' Street to fetch water. But, the sewage line running next to the water tank gets blocked very often.
As the sewage water stagnates, it attracts a lot of mosquitoes. It is highly likely to spread diseases and there is every chance of the water being polluted," said Lalitha Mahesh, a resident.
The residents demanded immediate action from BBMP authorities to clear the sewage line and cover it at the earliest.
When we took up the issue with the ward corporator Savitha Ramesh, she said, "Even I have received a lot of complaints pertaining to sewage lines, and a few cases where the sewage water was said to be over-flowing.
I have directed the health officers concerned to look into the issue as a water tank is said to be very close to the sewage line." Speaking to City Express, Chandar S who runs a taxi on Old Airport Road said, "Murphy Town lacks maintenance.
The Palike should take up activities like spraying mosquito repellants and bleaching powder wherever the need arises.
The overflowing sewage water creates inconvenience to residents living nearby.
People who have less immunity power will surely be infected by water-borne diseases.
Moreover, the stench arising out the sewage water is unbearable." Corporator Savitha Ramesh assured the residents that the above issues will be addressed at the earliest.