This ‘New York’ in Karnataka lacks amenities

The village, which was renamed after the 9/11 attack, lacks basic infrastructure

Hunana Doddi, a small village in Maddur talukof Mandya district, was renamed ‘New York’ by some residents after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

Civic amenities are a distant dream for residents of ‘New York’ in Mandya.

Hunana Doddi, a small village on Maddur–K.M. Doddi Road in Maddur taluk, is popularly known as ‘New York’. The village, which has nearly 1,000 residents, however, lacks infrastructure. Roads, drinking water, toilets, power supply, streetlights, drainage system, anganwadi centre and a community hall are among the demands of the residents.

A day after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center in New York City, U.S., some youngsters held a condolence meeting in the village. Later, they renamed the village as ‘New York’, according to the residents.

Though authorities, including those of the departments of Posts and Revenue and the KSRTC, are aware of the new name, it is not recognised by the Revenue Department.

Problems

While the anganwadi is running in a small rented house, the Maddur–K.M. Doddi main road is in bad shape. A large number of vehicles ply on the road that connects Maddur to Kala Muddana Doddi, Malavalli, T. Narasipur and Chamarajanagar, among other places.

“Accidents are common on this road near our village,” says Bharathesh, former member of the Maddur Taluk Panchayat. The district administration should improve the road and also provide basic infrastructure in the village, he said.

Protest

The village residents are planning to hold a protest against Housing Minister and Mandya district in charge M.H. Ambareesh, as their repeated pleas for basic infrastructure have fallen on deaf ears.

‘New York’ is situated a few kilometres away from Mr. Ambareesh’s native village, Doddarasina Kere. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Chikkarasina Kere Gram Panchayat.

“Mr. Ambareesh and Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa travel on this road regularly, but they have not taken steps to get the road repaired,” said Sharath, a Congress worker.

Admitting that the village lacks basic infrastructure, Uma Jogaiah, a gram panchayat member, said she would initiate measures to develop the village. She said she was planning to meet Mandya MP Ramya to seek help.