Contractors' laxity leaves residents shelterless

The residents of the erstwhile huts in AK Colony in Kacharakanahalli are cursing their fate. Courtesy: Apathy of the contractors of Bangalore Bruhat Mahanagara
Palike.

The Palike, under the 22.75 scheme, began construction of houses for the residents after demolishing their huts at AK Colony in 2010.

The houses, however, have become a matter of grave concern for the people, who belong to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. The poorly constructed and incomplete houses have neither doors nor windows.

Further, water seeps through the roofs of the houses leaving people hapless and nowhere to go.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, septuagenarian Muniarasamma said, “In 2010, two BBMP contractors Gopala Krishna and Narayanaswamy asked me to vacate my hut at the Colony. They told me that I was entitled for a house under the 22.75 per cent scheme. However,  even after two years, the house is not completed,” she said.

Muniarasamma is now forced to live in a rented space. “At this age, I have neither an employment nor any source of income. It is very difficult for me to afford rent. Though I have repeatedly complained about this to the contractors, they have ignored my pleas,” she alleged.

The residents said that almost all the houses built by the two contractors were of poor quality. They claimed that they used their savings or availed loan to complete the work on houses. However, Muniarasamma won’t be able to do it since she does not have any source of income. When contacted, Palike Commissioner Siddaiah promised that he would immediately look into the matter.