Teething problems nag Doddanekkundi ward

Seeking solutions: Benefits of urbanisation yet to reach here

Located about 20 km from the heart of the city, Doddanekkundi (ward 85) in Mahadevapura assembly constituency is now part of the vast Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). But the Palike, along with many other civic agencies like BWSSB, BDA, BESCOM and BMTC, is yet to make inroads for development.

This was evident during the 'Meet the Corporator' programme organised by Deccan Herald and Prajavani on Saturday offering a platform to the residents to air their grievances.

The corporator N R Sridhar Reddy was accompanied by Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali and several government officials. Though many works are yet to be completed in this ward that come under Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, the corporator has initiated some measures giving some respite to the residents.

Acute water crisis

Problems faced by the residents include acute water crisis, law and order problem, traffic chaos, BESCOM’s bursting transformers, stray dog menace, underground drainage system, BPL cards, lack of ration shop, clogged storm water drains, narrow and pot-holed roads, lack of adequate public transport system, khatha to the apartment owners, irregularities by waterman, garbage menace, absence of lung space, poor condition of lakes and water logging in the low-lying areas.

Though the City received heavy rains in the last 15 days, it was not enough for the residents of Doddanekkundi. As Cauvery water has not reached this newly added area of BBMP, people are totally dependent on ground water, which has depleted.

Alpines Eco Apartments Association office-bearer Mohan highlighted the severe water crisis here and told the corporator that they are paying Rs four lakh every month to buy water. The BWSSB Executive Engineer Srinivas Reddy made it clear to him and other residents of Doddanekkundi that Cauvery Second Stage pipeline would reach in this area not before January 2012 and people have to remain dependent on the groundwater until then.

Reddy, however, promised that some temporary measures would be taken to sort out this crisis. He told the aggrieved residents that they have started laying 50 kilometres long pipeline to provide water here.

A resident of Pragathi Layout Jobby M P complained that they are receiving water only once in three months and that there is partiality in supply of water. He alleged that water flows into the houses of whoever pays bribe to the waterman there.

Lack of UGD

The area lacks an underground drainage system due to which sewage is let in the open drain.  Highlighting this point, Balakrishna Bhat of Gururaja Layout asked corporator Sridhar Reddy to look into the matter. Reddy replied that work at an estimated cost of Rs 168 crore has already begun in the Mahadevapura constituency and his ward would get Rs 20 crore for this purpose.

He sought six months time to lay UGDs across the ward. Shivaji of Sriram Samruddhi Association complained that the private buses are parked near the Kundalahalli signal, resulting in regular traffic congestion. He was also opposed to the BMTC bus stop near the Kundalahalli Gate. In reply, corporator Sridhar Reddysaid he would see to it that the buses do not block the road.

BangaloreOne centre

K P Raghavendra of Sriram Spoorthi Apartments requested for a BangaloreOne centre at Doddanekkundi.

In response, the BBMP Joint Commissioner of Mahadevapura Zone, B Heera Nayak assured him that the Palike would look into the proposal sympathetically. He also pointed out towards the growing stray dog menace. In reply Nayak said under the existing laws the BBMP cannot cull the dogs but can carry out animal birth control programme.

Deepankar from Poorva Riviera said they have not yet got khatha despite running from pillar to post. To this Nayak told him that the entire apartment has come up on a storm water drain. The builder diverted the storm water drain without approval. He however, assured him that B Khata would be given to the residents.

Nikhil Pai of Doddanekkundi suggested that the Nakkundi Lake be developed which will help the underground water table go up.

Address our problems

There is no library in my area. The road, which my friends and I take to go to school, is not tarred. As a result, our bicycle tyres get punctured.

Preeti Sagar of Doddanekkundi

The garbage vans are irregular and collect garbage randomly. They do not pick up the garbage in time and we have to bribe them to be regular. 

Nambiar of Brookfield

We do not have a ration shop in our area and we are not getting enough kerosene. Whenever we go to the nearest ration shop, we are sent back.

Yellamma of Toobarahalli

Step-motherly treatment is meted to gated communities by civic agencies. We are maintaining our roads and street lights, which the BBMP should do.

Umesh Chand of Doddanekkundi

Projects undertaken

Work                                        Expenditure

Sthree Shakthi Bhavan             Rs 20 lakh
Footpath                                   Rs 3 crore
Public toilets in five places        Rs 20 lakh
Toilets in schools                      Rs 5 lakh
Graveyard compound wall        Rs 30 lakh
Bus shelters                             Rs 25 lakh
Roads and drains                     Rs 3 crore
Underground drains                 Rs 20 crore
Road name-boards                   Rs 50 lakh

Important numbers

Police
ACP M L Martin Alvares - 22943199/ 9480801607
Purushotham, HAL - 22942542/ 9480801616
M D Raffi, Mahadevapura - 22942546/ 9480801230
Ashwath Narayan K, Varthur - 28539196 / 9480801618
B N Gopal Krishna, Whitefield - 22943472 / 9480801617
Dharamappa, Airport  - 22943115/ 9480801817
Bescom
Nagabooshan, EE - 9845159049
M Sali, AEE - 25220806 / 9449844667
BDA
Rajashekar N, EE East - 25720264 / 9880730449
BBMP
B Heera Nayak, Joint Commissioner - 9980915050
Chandrashekarappa, Deputy Commissioner - 9980340787
Krishna Swamy K S, Chief Engineer - 9480683144
Ganagadhar Swamy, EE - 9480684589
S B Nagaraj, Health Officer - 22975850 / 9845320582
Nagaiah, EE (Street light)- 9591249322
BWSSB
Venkata Raju, Chief Engineer - 22945105/ 9845444005
Mahesh, Addl Chief Engineer - 22945110/ 9845444004
Revenue
Shiva Kumar, Tahsildhar, Bangalore East - 9845915635