Residents oppose students' hostel in Kengeri KHB flats

Residents of the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) Diamond flats in Bandemutt in Kengeri protested against the move to provide temporary hostel facilities to around 100 students from Bangalore University at 17 flats on Saturday.

The residents locked up the main gates and prevented the students from entering though they were accompanied by KHB officials who insisted that the residents open the gates. The students later staged a protest and started calling up their college principal and secretaries before they left without visiting the flats.

KHB Kengeri sub-division’s assistant executive engineer (AEE) Ranganathappa said: “We received a proposal from the chief secretary to allocate 17 flats to Bangalore University students for one year at the Diamond flats in Kengeri till their hostel was built. Students had just come to have a look at these flats on Saturday. Residents opposed the move. It is just a proposal, and the residents need not panic.''

The residents protested against a hostel or a paying guest accommodation at a residential gated community, saying it would be a nuisance.

“We are buying tanker water since there is no Cauvery water supply yet. We are already facing water problems and providing 17 flats to 100 students will only aggravate the situation,” Sridhar, a flat owner said.

“The students are from private colleges affiliated to BU and there is some kind of 'arrangement' between the college owner and KHB officials,” another resident Ajay Prasanna told DH.

“Though we do not have a registered residents’ welfare association as the occupancy is low, we will explore legal ways and approach the court to stall this arrangement,” said a flat owner, who is also an advocate.