Fed-up residents to protest civic neglect in Bellandur

Citizens are taking to the streets to protest the BBMP's apathy in providing civic amenities in southeast Bengaluru areas such as Bellandur, Sarjapur, Kasavanahalli, Doddakannelli and Harlur main roads.

At least 3,000 people belonging to 60 resident welfare associations (RWAs) under the banner of 'Save Bellandur' will form a human chain on Sarjapur Main Road on Saturday. Their main grouse is the BBMP's failure to fulfil the promise it had made in July. Back then, residents had come out with a comprehensive plan called 'Bellandur Development Resolution 2018' to develop the sprawling neighbourhood. Among the issues highlighted by them were bad roads, poor water supply and uncleared garbage.

The plan was submitted to local representatives, the BBMP and the state government. According to a member of Kasavanahalli Development Forum, which will be part of the protest, the BBMP promised to release funds and launch the works. But nothing happened until about two weeks ago when the civic body released some funds. Work is yet to start.

"The BBMP has released just Rs 3 crore out of Rs 9 crore for 40 kilometres of the sewer network project. Another Rs 1 crore was supposed to be released by now for installing 750 streetlights but there is no word on it," he said. "Residents have lost faith in the BBMP."

The protesters will pitch for speeding up the sewage network project, implementing the garbage micro-plan, holistic rejuvenation of lakes in consonance with the 2016 monitoring committee's report, restructuring the area's governance and decongesting roads.

Another resident said commuting was the most important issue in Bellandur and the surrounding areas which didn't have metro or suburban train connectivity while the BMTC service remained poor. Sarjapur Road, Outer Ring Road and roads in Iblur are just too bad to commute, he added.