Raghuvanahalli's cup of woes full with garbage

BWSSB authorities are yet to comment on the likely completion date for the ongoing repair works

Vasudha Zora I NT

Bengaluru: Situated in the southern part of the city, Raghuvanahalli layout fall in gunder Banashankari 6th stage, Kanakapura road, like many of the areas in eight zones is suffering from numerous civic problems.

Areas of Raghuvanahalli, Doddakallasandra, Ganigarapalya and Adarsha Layout 80 feet road have been undergoing road repair work over the last six months. But the areas have barely seen any improvement in the condition of roads.

Most of the areas still have blindspots that are dangerous for night driving and since there are very minimal sources of light, even with the few streetlights. As a result, there have been reports of many untoward incidents involving daily commuters. Rajesh S V, a resident of Raghuvanahalli and a daily commuter said, ”These roads are unfit for night driving as well as day-time driving.

The potholes surface now and then despite repair works. We have to wait for election months for these repairs to take place.” He also said that he had been a regular visitor to the 'Bangalore One office with the same request to repair the potholes but very little or no work has been carried out by the concerned authorities.

Suman Rehka, another local resident alleged, ”The garbage management unit is always sleeping. We barely have any weekly visits from the collection trucks. Since there are no common garbage bins, most of the garbage coming from our homes gets accumulated and we have to call these collectors and give them extra money to clear the garbage.”

Suman said although she felt bad for the contractors but did not want to dump the garbage in empty plots and nearby water bodies like her neighbours have been doing ever since the collection trucks stopped their regular operations. She also said that the new contractors had no understanding of garbage segregation, so everything is mixed and piled up.

Amid this civic apathy, the area which once was a source of green pastures for cows has since become a dumping ground. Many of the cows are seen eating plastic wrappers wrapped with discarded food items. The crow population has increased feeding on the garbage alongside insect menace.

Since the area is seeing massive development, with new societies and independent homes coming up, the labourers working at the project sites have been making makeshift homes. They often use the nearby spots to relieve themselves. All these factors have posed a threat to the health of people residing in the area.

People have also been complaining about the mosquito menace even during winter months when ideally it should be at a low ebb. Many people living close to these unattended dumps complain of harmful microbial growth in their homes which is fatal to the health of their families.

The problem is being experienced by most of the people living in the slums. As if it was not enough, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) authorities have repeatedly blocked the exits on Kanakapura road. The move has hampered the business of many of the pubs and restaurants nearby.

The city traffic authorities said, “The BWSSB work has been on for more than a month. The peak hour traffic is a little tough to handle, especially around 6 pm when the traffic builds up, Since the road is one way now, the vehicles using these roads face heavy traffic congestion. Though, the traffic during the day is smoother." The police officials conduct regular patrolling in the area.

According to the police, there have been no major incidents of crimes besides occasional theft, stealing of vehicle parts and youngsters abusing drugs in open spaces. The BWSSB authorities are yet to comment on the likely completion date for the ongoing repair works being carried out at the Kanakapura road.