<p> Devaraj Urs Layout, a residential layout developed by Kolar Urban Development Authority (KUDA) 23 years ago, is deprived of basic facilities like electricity, drains, roads and parks. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The residents are running from pillar to post to get the necessary facilities.<br />KUDA acquired 121 acres and 3 guntas of agricultural land near Tamaka and developed the layout in 1994-95. The layout has 1,426 sites of different dimensions. Among them, KUDA has already sold 1,282 sites and the corner sites have not yet been sold. <br /><br />Among the sites sold, houses have been built on 300 sites.This is the only layout developed by KUDA after it was established. However, the basic facilities have still remained a mirage. <br /><br />The site owners charged that KUDA does not approve private layouts if they have small problems. But it has failed to provide basic facilities to its own layout, they alleged.<br /><br />They said KUDA had erected electric poles, set up transformers and laid power cables. But it did not provide electricity connection. Taking advantage of this, thieves have stolen the transformers and power cables.The site owners have secured temporary electricity connection by paying from own pockets, they added.<br /><br />The residents said Bescom has considered them as commercial consumers and is charging them Rs 9.50 per unit instead of Rs 3 (for domestic connection). Also, the deposit for electricity connection is more. The locals are spending most of their earnings on electricity bills. At some houses, the bill goes up to Rs 6,000 per month, they poured their woes. <br /><br />They said they take the photographs of their electric meters and show that readings to Bescom personnel and pay the bills. Bescom’s meter readers do not come to houses in the layout, they charges.<br /><br />They also said the layout is not maintained well and criminal activities are increasing. It has become a gambling den and miscreants are not scared though the SP’s office is nearby. The lack of street lamps, proper water supply and drainage has worsened the situation, they said.<br /><br />A resident said KUDA is supplying water through tankers as the water problem is very serious in the area. “We are buying tanker water too to meet our requirement,” he added.<br /><br />He said the layout came under the City Municipal Council in 1996. But the CMC has not yet handed over the documents of the layout to the residents and it is also not providing any basic facilities, he charged. <br /><br /></p>
<p> Devaraj Urs Layout, a residential layout developed by Kolar Urban Development Authority (KUDA) 23 years ago, is deprived of basic facilities like electricity, drains, roads and parks. <br /><br /></p>.<p>The residents are running from pillar to post to get the necessary facilities.<br />KUDA acquired 121 acres and 3 guntas of agricultural land near Tamaka and developed the layout in 1994-95. The layout has 1,426 sites of different dimensions. Among them, KUDA has already sold 1,282 sites and the corner sites have not yet been sold. <br /><br />Among the sites sold, houses have been built on 300 sites.This is the only layout developed by KUDA after it was established. However, the basic facilities have still remained a mirage. <br /><br />The site owners charged that KUDA does not approve private layouts if they have small problems. But it has failed to provide basic facilities to its own layout, they alleged.<br /><br />They said KUDA had erected electric poles, set up transformers and laid power cables. But it did not provide electricity connection. Taking advantage of this, thieves have stolen the transformers and power cables.The site owners have secured temporary electricity connection by paying from own pockets, they added.<br /><br />The residents said Bescom has considered them as commercial consumers and is charging them Rs 9.50 per unit instead of Rs 3 (for domestic connection). Also, the deposit for electricity connection is more. The locals are spending most of their earnings on electricity bills. At some houses, the bill goes up to Rs 6,000 per month, they poured their woes. <br /><br />They said they take the photographs of their electric meters and show that readings to Bescom personnel and pay the bills. Bescom’s meter readers do not come to houses in the layout, they charges.<br /><br />They also said the layout is not maintained well and criminal activities are increasing. It has become a gambling den and miscreants are not scared though the SP’s office is nearby. The lack of street lamps, proper water supply and drainage has worsened the situation, they said.<br /><br />A resident said KUDA is supplying water through tankers as the water problem is very serious in the area. “We are buying tanker water too to meet our requirement,” he added.<br /><br />He said the layout came under the City Municipal Council in 1996. But the CMC has not yet handed over the documents of the layout to the residents and it is also not providing any basic facilities, he charged. <br /><br /></p>
