Potholes on the roads, garbage mounds around the city, poor monsoon preparedness, lack of functional streetlights continue to dog the city despite categorical instructions and deadlines given by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who undertook his fourth round of the city on Saturday.
During first round of the city three weeks ago, although Mr. Siddaramaiah had directed potholes to be filled, debris to be removed from roads, effective garbage disposal and functional street lights within a month, the results are not showing on the ground.
While Mr. Siddaramaiah and other elected representatives appeared to be energetic and issued directions at every stop, many officials admitted that the practice is getting monotonous. When quizzed about the progress on projects and whether deadlines were being adhered to, Mr. Siddaramaiah admitted that there would be a delay. “Due to the rains, filling potholes may be delayed but the other works are going on. Work on the Okalipuram eight-lane signal-free corridor has commenced and debris is being removed. Officials have to comply with instructions and stick to deadlines,” he said.
As the State government is bracing itself for elections, several people that The Hindu spoke to felt that the government had woken up late from its slumber.
T. Harikrishna, who lives in a tin shed in Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, is awaiting houses to be constructed under the Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana. He said, “There is severe shortage of electricity and water is available once a week. The sanitation facility is so poor that mosquitoes that breed in the area have made many children sick.”
Abidi Banu, a resident of Lakshmidevi Nagar, which the Chief Minister visited, said that repeated assurances by elected representatives had gone in vain and they are yet to get basic infrastructural facilities.
Standstill Saturdays
Several people have also criticised the CM’s tours for causing traffic chaos every Saturday.
Nishchita, a motorist who was stuck near Palace Road due to the CM’s convoy, said, “There is no end to traffic jams in the city. Plus, every Saturday we get stranded due to the CM’s city rounds. It would help if the traffic police share the route map a day in advance so that we can be prepared.”
