Like much of Bangalore, garbage continues to bother the residents of Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency. In fact, garbage overwhelms voters so much other other issues get brushed aside. Even basic problems like water scarcity and lack of a hospital in don’t even get a mention unless probed.
Many streets of the mainly residential area of Pulakeshinagar are dotted with piles of garbage that remain uncleared for days. “We can’t even begin to explain how garbage has affected us. Earlier, workers would come regularly and clear the roads. It has been a while since I have seen the road being swept,” said Shashi Beri, a boutique owner in Fraser Town.
Hospital needed
When pressed to talk about other concerns, some residents spelt out the need for a hospital in the area. “Every time we need medical care, we have to go all the way to Bowring Hospital,” said Anita, a resident of Pottery Town, who had a difficult pregnancy. “It is quite a distance for us in times of emergency. It would be useful if a hospital was set up nearby.”
However, Ms. Anita and her neighbours were quick to mention that the MLA has promised them one soon.
Asha, another resident of Pottery Town, said though there is a government school in the locality, the quality of education does not encourage parents to admit their children there. “On the other hand, the private school nearby charges nearly Rs. 9,000 a year at the primary level,” she said, something she can’t afford.
As for Williams Town, while garbage is still the primary concern here, water crisis is a real problem. Tense-looking residents scurry around with plastic pots to collect water at around 3 p.m. as word spreads of water trickling in taps.
“Water comes only on alternate days, and most often that too is unpredictable. We even took the matter to the media a year ago and the councillor was pulled up. Soon, our roads were dug up and new pipelines were laid, but nothing has changed till today, and the road has not even been re-laid since,” said a resident on the condition of anonymity.
Concrete houses
Curline, a resident of Pottery Town, has similar concerns but is more than glad that sitting Congress legislator B. Prasanna Kumar has given her and others like her a pukka house to live in. “He has built a few hundred concrete houses in the constituency,” she said and expressed confidence that he would address other problems as well.
