The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Devara Chikkanahalli crying for attention

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Monday, May 05, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Devara Chikkanahalli crying for attention

Staff Reporter

It forms part of the new Bommanahalli constituency

— Photo: By Special Arrangement

STARK CONTRAST: A swanky apartment that has come up in front of a garbage dump at Devara Chikkanahalli in Bommanahalli constituency.

BANGALORE: Heaps of garbage, overflowing drainage and un-metalled roads have bothered a large number of people here for long. Situated amid the two information technology corridors, Hosur Road and Bannerghatta Road, the area, which is in the new Bommanahalli Assembly constituency that is witnessing rapid development as far as housing infrastructure is concerned, is crying for attention.

Most of the semi-urban pockets in the constituency, which has been carved out of the erstwhile Uttarahalli constituency, face identical problems even as swanky apartments have come up to meet the housing needs, especially of the information technology sector employees.

Though it falls in the backyard of Electronics City that houses mega IT corporates, the constituency, with 2.61 lakh voters, offers a contradictory picture in terms of development.

“Nearly 4,500 families live in Devara Chikkanahalli that lack basic facilities. Garbage is not cleared, water is supplied once in 10 days, roads have not been metalled and underground drainage facility is not provided,” S.T. Arasu, president of the Krishna Layout Residents Welfare Association, says.

With a view to bring in basic amenities in the area, the association provided a platform to candidates of leading political parties to place their plan for the improvement of the area, on Sunday.

While the BJP candidate, Satish Reddy, promised that increased funding would be made available to the area for development of roads and drainage, the Congress candidate, Kupendra Reddy, the second richest candidate in the city, said that priority would be given for local development.

This constituency, comprising mainly semi-urban pockets barring a few areas such as HSR Layout, Bannerghatta Road and a small portion of J.P. Nagar, poses a serious challenge to the candidates.

Most areas, including Bilkehalli, Arakere, Hulimavu, Nyanappanahalli and Sundarram Shetty Nagar, have similar problems with civic amenities.

“Though the area has seen many apartments being built in the last two decades, there has been no improvement as far as basic facilities are concerned.

“A quarry has been converted into an unscientific garbage disposal yard, from where unbearable stench emanates, and residents are living in perennial fear of an outbreak of a disease,” said another resident Prasanna Kumar.

The Bangalore Development Authority-developed BTM Layout 4th Stage also fares no better than the revenue pockets in the area, as it lacks good approach roads and street lights. Almost all the manholes have lost their covers and a ride in the night is risky here.

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