Civic woes brim over in Pulakeshinagar

Being located in the heart of the City has hardly helped areas under the Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency. 

Pulakeshinagar is a glaring example of official apathy. It has the maximum number of slums and citizens here have every reason to believe that they are being treated as second-class citizens. More than 4,000 pourakarmikas living in this constituency complain that they are paid less than the minimum wages fixed by BBMP. Narrow roads, uncleared garbage and stray dog menace are the chief among the woes here. 

As summer has set in, a severe water crisis looms large over the Pulakeshinagar constituency. The existing water supply line is inadequate to meet the needs and many borewells have gone dry.

The problems surfaced at the ‘Citizens for change’ event organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani at Pulakeshinagar on Saturday. MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, corporators Umme Salma Khamar Basha, Netra Narayan, Sampath Raj, A R Zakir and Syeda Sajida Begum besides a battery of officials of BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, Bescom and BMTC promised to address the grievances. Mohammad Hussain from Devarajeevanahalli sought a water treatment plant in the face of the water crisis.Hussain said, “The BBMP has already constructed a water treatment plant, which was operational for some time but stopped functioning.” DJ Halli corporator R Sampath Raj assured him that the water plant, near Modi Garden, will be operational on April 10.

Mohammed Aftab of Kushaal Nagar complained that they were getting water once a week, forcing them to depend on tankers. 

MLA Murthy said that a separate water supply line from OMBR Layout would be drawn in a fortnight and water would be supplied thrice a week. Nirmala, a resident of Sultanpalya, said, “The pipes used for water supply are of substandard quality, which give way often.”

M C Srinivas, a leader of Pourakarmikas (civic workers), drew the attention of the officials towards the injustice meted out to the Pourakarmikas on contract. He said the workers on contract are supposed to get wages of Rs 9,750 a month, but they get only Rs 6,700. A BBMP officer said the Pourakarmikas were getting salary after their provident fund and ESI deductions. But, the Pourakarmikas said they are being cheated. Intervening, MLA Murthy assured the Pourakarmikas that he would hold a meeting soon and resolve the matter.

Other demands were widening of Dinnur Road and KHB Road to end traffic jams. BBMP executive engineer (Major Roads) Kempegowda said the Palike wants to widen the road, but none was ready to give their properties for the project, in exchange for Transferable Development Rights (TDR) offered by BBMP. Residents demanded more BMTC buses from Pulakeshinagar to various bus terminals, instead of just Majestic.

They sought more jetting machines to clear blockages of sewerage lines. Vasudev Rao of Chinnappa Garden highlighted the stray dog menace, Vijayanandan of Muneshwara Nagar sought a permanent solution to the reeking stormwater drain on Mosque Road. Lack of public toilets, garbage menace and absence of a proper road from Modi Garden Road to Military Road were also highlighted.

DH News Service

MLA promises to improve quality of government schools

What are the main challenges in your constituency?

We are confronted with problems pertaining to garbage, education, streetlights, widening of road and water crisis. These issues need to be addressed immediately. We have to take up widening of Dinnur and Tannery Roads. 

How are you going to improve education in government schools?

Education is another important area I want to focus on, because the constituency has the maximum number of slums and the slum-dwellers cannot afford education in private schools for their children. We need to improve the government schools.

There are some issues with the Defence Land. How will you resolve them?

The road from Modi Garden to Defence Land is in poor shape, but we are not able to take up the repair work. In the government records, the road exists as ‘B’ kharab, which nobody can take away. We are trying to solve the problem amicably.

Police officers keep away

The police officers were conspicuous by their absence from the event. People had many complaints regarding the deteriorating law and order and traffic bottlenecks, but there was none from the police department to answer their queries.