The New Indian Express 26.08.2010
Garbage, weeds haunt residents
BANGALORE: The residents of Chokkasandra and surrounding areas are facing lot of problems due to heaps of garbage and overgrown weeds. Heaps of garbage is a common sight at many localities in Chokkasandra ward.With most of the women working at nearby factories, they leave homes early morning. They will be working at factories when pourakarmikas visit the area after 10 am to collect garbage. “It will be convenient for us if they collect garbage before 8 am. We have no option than throw it on the streets or at vacant places,” said a housewife.
The residents complain that pourakarmikas visit houses situated on main road and never bother to collect garbage from other houses situated at lanes.
“I made several requests to the pourakarmikas to keep the open drain in front of my residence but in vain. I even offered them money. They are not doing their duty properly,” said H Jyothi, a housewife.
Echoing Jyothi’s opinion, Varalakshmi, a housewife said the garbage collection is not up to the mark. “We want to keep our surroundings free from garbage. We expect the BBMP authorities to direct the garbage contractor to ensure that pourakarmikas do their duty properly,” said Varalakshmi.
There is nothing to revel about the facilities available at the HMT Housing Colony. Many sites are full of overgrown weeds thus causing inconvenience to the people who had constructed houses. “I am suffering from breathing problem due to the parthenium weeds,” said a house-owner on condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, M Muniswamy, Corporator, says that efforts are being made to ensure the garbage contractor to clear the garbage on regular basis.
“I have received several complaints against the garbage contractor. There is a plan to float a tender for garbage cleaning contract. Though the BBMP has been paying him money, he is not doing his duty properly. I will raise the issue during the next BBMP Council meeting,” said Muniswamy.
On the overgrown weeds at vacant sites in HMT Housing Colony, the corporator said that it had become a tough task to contact the owners of those sites.
“I came to know that many site owners are yet to apply for katha certificate. I will ask the assistant executive engineer of BBMP to look into the matter,” assured the corporator.
