Bengaluru: “Many may aspire to own a BDA plot, but some of the ‘lucky’ ones who own them have fled unable to live with the lack of amenities. The Bharath Housing Co-operative Society (BHCS) Layout seems peaceful and fast developing. But like they say, grass is always greener on the other side,” said K.V Sudheendra, president of BHCS Residents’ Association.
Located close to Dr Vishnuvardhan Circle on Kengeri-Uttarahalli Road, the layout is formed by the BDA. However, like many localities on the city outskirts, which have escaped the officials’ eyes, this layout, housing 200 families and 75 upcoming homes, too has lying neglected since its formation. The ‘proud’ owners are left to run post-to-pillar even to get basic amenities such as roads, streetlights and security. Thanks to their continuous efforts, roads have been laid and streetlights have become functional.
“But, even after fighting for two years we have not been able to fix the problem of open flow of sewage,” Sudheendra lamented. Naresh, another resident, explains, “There have been confusion between the society owners and BWSSB over payment of sanitary and water connection charges. As a result, we are bearing the brunt. The BWSSB has been disinterested to solve our problem. Sewage flows like a stream, contaminating borewell water. The drains too have no retain wall and it can collapse any day. Due to this, the number of flies have immensely increased in the locality.”
Political rivalries have also ensured that the locality does not get basic amenities and not many officials have shown interest, the residents feel.
Along with drainage problems, the residents are also forced to live without regular water supply.
Naresh said, “We are hoping to get Cauvery connections but to get even borewell water supply, we have to struggle. The borewell water is not available uniformly in the layout. Some get, while most don’t. On dry days, we shell out exorbitant money on water tankers. Why are officials so unsympathetic?”
The residents’ problems don’t just end with lack of sanitary and water connections. Since the area is still developing, there are many vacant plots, making it an ideal to illegally burn garbage. “Every day and night we spot strangers burning garbage outside our homes. Despite our best efforts we have not been able to nab the culprits. Why doesn’t the BBMP step up patrolling in such deserted localities?” asks Shekar, another resident. The residents have approached the BWSSB engineer-in-chief Krishnappa, hoping the problem will be resolved.
Management hasn’t paid Rs 5 crore: Krishnappa, EIC, BWSSB
Why the delay in addressing the problems in BHCS Layout?
Every Society must hand us over the maintenance of sanitary and water connections, after a layout is formed. On collecting GBWASP charges and linking charges, we provide services to the layout. But we haven’t received these charges from the BHCS Layout and the maintenance has not been handed over to us. Hence, there is delay in providing connections to the layout.
Will the residents have to bear the charges and will be the amount?
The total charges will be around Rs 5 crore and the society management will have to pay us, not the residents.
If paid, when will they get the sanitary and water supply connections?
We have made some policies to solve the problems at the earliest. If paid immediately, the problem will be solved within a week.
