Poll rally? CM Siddaramaiah goes on Bengaluru city tour again

Bengaluru: Amid bursting of crackers and sloganeering by Congress workers, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah conducted his weekly city inspection on Monday, the fifth, within a span of 30 days.

The fifth inspection appeared more like a rally for the coming BBMP polls than an inspection to boost city infrastructure. The elated CM smiled, posed, shook hands and addressed party workers instead of spending more time listening to public grievances. Highlights of Mr Siddaramaiah’s full-fledged rally and partial inspection in Shanthinagar and Shivajinagar constituencies:

10.55 am Lower Agaram Road, Hosmat Hospital Junction
It was an eventful morning for party workers who braved light showers while they waited for the CM to arrive here. Hundreds of commuters had a harrowing time as the CM’s visit caused traffic jams. Mr Siddaramaiah did not inspect Lower Agaram Road though the party workers spent hours waiting for him. He stopped for less than two minutes there that too to receive garlands and felicitations.

11 am: Johnson Market, Hosur-Lashkar Road  
Following complaints by commuters and local MLA, Mr Siddaramaiah inspected the junction at Johnson Market. BBMP officials informed the CM that they needed three acres of Defence Land to widen the road by 30 metres. The CM assured to look into the matter.

11.10 am: Anepalya, Hosur Main Road
Yashodamma, a resident of Anepalya, complained to the CM that drinking water was contaminated and sewage flowed into the houses in the locality during rains. “Every time it rains, sewage from the nearby drains flows into our homes. The last few weeks have been stressful. Many in the locality have taken ill,” she said. Though the CM visited the locality to inspect a temple, he had to listen to the complaints of residents. Responding to them, the CM directed the BWSSB chairman to take steps to prevent contamination of water.  

11.30 am: Nandan Playground, Austin Town
Shanthinagar MLA N.A Harris said that many football and hockey players who used Nandan playground lacked amenities. He urged the CM to direct the officials concerned to take steps to develop the ground and construct a swimming pool. The CM said, “There is a vacant plot next to the playground which belongs to Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation Ltd. I have instructed Home Minister K.J. George to hold a meeting and try to handover the land to the BBMP in exchange for Nandan playground.”     

11.50 am: Mayabazaar, Austin Town
Residents of over 700 houses complained that the Defence personnel did not allow government agencies to provide basic infrastructure such as laying drinking water and sanitary pipelines. The CM said that though in 1984 the Slum Board notified Mayabazaar to be a declared as a slum, the residents had been denied basic amenities. “The Defence Ministry prevented all civil works. These people have been living in the slum from many decades,” he said after the inspection.

12.10 pm: Ejipura EWS
Residents of Ejipura slum have been waiting for many years for the BBMP to hand them over the houses they were promised. The BBMP, in association with Maverick Hoardings Ltd, has taken up construction of houses for those who were living in the slum. On the delay in completion of the project, he said, “The project was stalled due to delay in sanctioning the plan and the matter was before the court. Now, it has been sorted out and the builders have assured that houses will be ready within a month. Nearly 1,800 people were living in the slum before they were evicted,” he said.

12.30 pm  Natasha Golf View, Kormangala
Recent rains flooded nearly 50 houses at Natasha Golf View apartment complex after the retaining wall of the storm water drain collapsed. Inspecting the area, the CM set a deadline of one month to complete the repair work. “It’s my strict order to complete the work before July 15,” he warned the BBMP chief engineer (storm water drains).   

12.50 pm: Krishna Reddy Colony, Domlur
Occupants of nearly 70 houses at Krishna Reddy Colony urged the CM to hand them over title deeds of their homes located on the Defence land. Uma, a resident, said her family has been living in the same area since 30 years but did not have ownership rights over the plot. “We have received eviction notices. Where do we go?” she said. The CM said, “I will speak to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and urge him to hand over the land to us. Instead, we will give alternative land to the Defence administration.”  

Yoga Day

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Mr Siddaramaiah said that Yoga Day should be celebrated irrespective of caste, creed and race, and religion should not come in one’s way while practicing yoga. “The benefits of yoga are multiple. I too practice yoga and it can only do more good. Yoga should not become a religion or communal issue,” he said. Clean the City, CM! As the CM’s convoy negotiated the narrow lanes of Jogupalya, a few residents held placards that did not miss the CM’s notice. Their message was ‘Clean the City!’

Super-specialty hospital

The CM announced that the Cabinet had approved a proposal to construct a super-specialty hospital near Millers Tank Bund Road at a cost of Rs 12 crore. He said that the hospital would be run by Narayana Hrudyalaya, which will install equipment worth Rs 20 crore. The hospital will provide treatment for heart and kidney-related problems, the CM said.