The New Indian Express 19.10.2010
Water crisis in Vignananagar
BANGALORE: The residents of Vignananagar ward want the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities to dig up as many borewells as possible to ensure regular water supply.It is quite surprising that many areas of Vignananagar ward have been reeling under acute shortage of water for many years. With the authorities concerned failing to ensure water supply on a regular basis, private water suppliers are earning a lot of money by supplying water at premium prices.
“There a few vacant sites with overgrown weeds. These sites have become a nuisance for us. We expect the BBMP authorities to take measures to clear the weed from these sites,’’ said H Mahadevi, a housewife.
Many cross roads are yet to be asphalted. These roads become slushy during monsoon. “There is no change in the condition of these cross roads. The authorities have been promising to asphalt these roads for the last five years but nothing has been done till now,’’ says Mahadevi.
Heaps of garbage and open drains choked with silt and debris are a common sight at Akash Nagar, A Narayanapura and other areas. The drains with stagnant water have become a breeding place for mosquitoes. “The BBMP authorities are not doing anything to remove the silt from open drains and clear weeds from vacant sites. I expect them to do something for the benefit of people. We are finding it tough to cope with mosquito menace,’’ says G Gopi, a resident.
There are a few areas where water table has reached rock bottom. The water table has depleted considerably in Shastri Nagar, Kallappa Layout. “Many borewells have failed due to depletion of water table. We have no underground drainage facility too,’’ said a resident.
Geeta Vivekananda, Corproator, says that many areas are reeling under acute shortage of water. “Many borewells were dug up recently. Efforts are being made to improve the water supply with the available resources. We have to wait till 2012 to get Cauvery water supply to these areas,’’ says Geeta.
The corporator said that the work of under ground drainage has commenced at three areas of Vignananagar ward recently. On the garbage issue, she said: “We need 50 more pourakarmikas to clear the garbage. As of now, there are only 150 pourakarmikas. We expect these problems to be solved as soon as the new garbage contractor is appointed.”
