Flooding, waterlogging, waste dumping, potholes an epidemic in Jarganahalli: Residents

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Jarganahalli is a residential as well as industrial locality in JP Nagar Phase 6 located in Ward No 196 of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). It is located along Kanakapura Road, which makes it well-connected to other parts of the city.

The locality is home to a number of high-end bungalows and apartments, as well as a few commercial establishments.

Jarganahalli is a safe and secure locality. Flooding here, though, is caused by a combination of factors, including poor drainage, illegal construction, and encroachment of storm-water drains.

When it rains, the water has nowhere to go and it backs up into the streets and homes. This has led to sewage entering houses and parking lots, and it has also made it difficult for residents to get around.

Rajagopalan R, a member of the Residents Welfare Association in JP Nagar, said, “Nowadays, rains in the city are happening as unpredictable cloud bursts in just parts of the city causing heavy rains for a few minutes which is posing significant challenges.”

he added that encroachment of footpaths and storm-water drains have also added to this problem making it difficult for the residents to even walk by the roads after consequent rains. Shreya Chopra, a resident who lives in an apartment on the main road, Kanakapura Road, shared the myriad of issues she faces in the area.

Owing to potholes and frequent waterlogging on her road, two-wheeler riders end up riding on the sidewalk, making it an issue for pedestrians.

“There is ankle-deep water even after a slight shower and it has been the case for several years,” she said.

Other issues In addition to flooding, Jarganahalli residents are also facing other issues, such as the misuse of barren private property for waste dumping, several potholes on the roads, and the lack of a traffic police system.

The waste dumping is creating a health hazard, and the potholes are making it difficult for motorists to drive safely. The lack of a traffic police system is leading to accidents, and it is also making it difficult for pedestrians to cross the roads safely.

The private property on Kanakapura Road in Jarganahalli has now become a major garbage dump yard. This has caused a stench over the area. Residents like Shreya, who wish to cross this dump yard to reach the bus stop have stopped using the bus and instead rely on metro or private transport.

Shreya stated that there are also instances when the garbage was burnt causing air pollution. The residents of Jarganahalli have been demanding that the BBMP take action to address these issues.

However, so far, the BBMP has not taken any concrete steps to solve the problems. What can be done?

Rajagopalan said that the recent initiative by Bengaluru’s Traffic Police, Reclaim Footpath has been a success and it is important it is consistent. The BBMP needs to take immediate action to address the flooding and waterlogging in Jarganahalli.

This includes the BBMP and BWSSB working together towards cleaning out the storm-water drains, removing illegal constructions, and preventing the encroachment of storm-water drains. The BBMP should also work with the residents to create a plan for waste management.

The BBMP should also fix the potholes on the roads and improve the traffic police system. This will make it safer for motorists and pedestrians to travel in Jarganahalli.

The residents of Jarganahalli need to continue to demand that the BBMP take action to solve the problems in their locality. They should also work together to come up with solutions to the problems. By working together, the residents can make Jarganahalli a better place to live.