Hundreds of residents in Bengaluru under the banner of ‘Save Bellandur’ formed a giant silent human chain on Saturday to protest against the state of civic infrastructure. Their demands included motorable roads, proper drainage and sewer management, efficient public transport and a well-functioning solid waste management system. Saturday’s drive was supported by more than 60 Resident Welfare Associations and civic groups like Kasa Mukhta Bellandur, Doddakannelli Rising, Chikkanayakanahalli Forum, Bangalore Apartment Federation and Carmelaram Unites. The human chain was spotted on Iblur, Outer Ring Road and Sarjapur Road, which are among the the top five worst commute roads in Bengaluru.
Saturday’s protests were preceded by a door-to-door campaign, bike rally and a painting competition held to raise awareness on these issues. In a statement, the citizens said Bellandur, the 27 square kilometre ward, is one of the largest wards in Bengaluru, with over 220 crores of tax collection for BBMP, but in return the ward gets Rs 7 crore back in BBMP’s budgetary allocation, quoting a Janaagraha analysis of the 2017-18 budget.
Vishnu Prasad, Kasavanahalli Development Forum said, ”Bellandur comes into the news for its frothy lake, but water [and] underground drainage is non-existent to majority of residents in this IT Corridor. The works happening on this front as part of 110 Villages is not at the pace and quality that is helping residents. There is no coordinated plan to speed up. Today, roads are dug for months with no motorable restoration. [Underground drainage] design work for Bellandur is also not progressed at a pace as needed. This lack of infrastructure, in addition to dug up roads with no proper relief to residents, is adding to serious mobility issues, putting many lives in danger.”
“One of the highest number of H1N1 cases is from Bellandur, Mahadevapura due to lack of even basic drainage infrastructure. [There is a] garbage menace across Bellandur,” he added.