People Shedding Tears for Water in Hebbal
BENGALURU: Located in the northern part of the city, Hebbal is a thriving area where infrastructure building is booming due to its proximity to the airport. During the 2010 BBMP election, BJP had won five and Congress three of the eight wards in the area, which has a sizable population of minorities and other backward classes. While people in some localities are happy with the performance of the previous corporators, others complain of favouritism as facilities only reach areas which voted for them.
As elsewhere in the city, problems of sanitation and underground drainage affect residents here. Howeve what is of prime concern here is the water shortage and quality. Locals allege that areas which are favourable to the local corporator are supplied good water while several backward localities get nonpotable water. “The water has a distinct white hue. Since we have no other go, we use that water to drink too,” Ratnamma, a resident, said. An abandoned borewell in Shivashanker block of Hebbal ward is an indicator of the typical official apathy, say residents. The borewell was dug recently, and people claim over `10 lakh was spent to dig it. But not one of the houses have got water from it.“There is ample water in the borewell. However, the motor is n o t working due to shoddy electrical work. Despite the fault in the motor, authorities connected it to a power source risking electrocution of children playing in the vicinity,” said Kailash, who runs a business.
Located a stone’s throw away is Pillappa Layout of Ganga Nagar ward. “There is not a single BBMP tap in the layout. We are either forced to carry water from taps nearby or pay for tanker water,” complained Raghavendra from the layout. Even though there are several other issues, if the next corporator could sort out the water problem, it will benefit us, he said. Water supply is a relatively minor issue in Sanjay Nagar ward, but streetlights and sanitation are a major problem. “These are non-existent in localities where MLAs and the well-off live. In certain parts of the ward, children suffer as mosquitoes are rampant. We haven’t seen any one from BBMP fogging to get rid of mosquitoes,” said Sayyad, a resident. “Has the Cauvery water supply to Bengaluru stopped?”, asked Sunanda from Radhakrishna Temple Ward. “It appears that UGD water is getting mixed with water supplied by BWSSB as it smells of fish.
We are drinking only borewell water for the past three months,” the homemaker added. Problems such as lack of playgrounds for children, overflowing drains, improper disposal of waste, and monetary demands by pourakarmikas to clean the ocalities have made the residents angry in the eight wards which comprise the Hebbal constituency. It has some landmark buildings and institutions such as the Parachute Regiment Training Centre, CBI offices, Doordarshan TV tower, and Gangenahalli Market.