Nallurhalli residents come out in protest against neglect of area

Battered roads, reeking open drains, dust and mosquito menace are the bane of Nallurhalli in Hagadur ward of HAL Road.

Years of neglect by civic authorities and public representatives has forced citizens to stand up against the apathy.

Sporting masks and holding placards, hundreds of people, including children and senior citizens, took out a march on Wednesday on Borewell Road demanding better civic amenities. Named Nallurhalli Kapadi (Save Nallurhalli), the protest had the backing of Whitefield Rising group, which had successfully led many protests and achieved its goal. Many took time off from work to join the protest. People from Kadugodi, Garudacharpalya and Hoodi too participated.

Covering a distance of 1.5 km from the Post Office to Ambedkar Statue, many children from neighbouring schools including 14 nursery schools and residents protested with placards.

The protest evoked a curious response from onlookers as the demonstrators were led by drummers who wore black ribbons and masks to underline the pathetic condition of one of the oldest areas of Whitefield. Police ensured there was smooth flow of traffic and no untoward incident. Later, they dispersed peacefully after assembling at Nallurhalli junction. The trigger for the protest was the failure of authorities to repair a road that was dug up by the BWSSB on this narrow stretch in 2016. As a result, the 1.5-km stretch has became a commuters’ nightmare. The worst sufferers are schoolchildren and senior citizens who regularly take this road.

The participants maintained discipline as they carried their own water bottles and took them back, without littering them. Banners made for the event were given to ‘Joy of Work’ in Nallurhalli for recycling.