Tooba Layout: A civic blackhole
Tooba Layout, which recently came under BBMP limits, has been facing neglect for several years.
Bengaluru: Amid tall buildings and a posh mall, there lies an area without proper road connectivity and absolute no garbage disposal mechanism.
Tooba Layout, which recently came under BBMP limits, has been facing neglect for several years. The residents complain of not having access even to proper drains, which often leaves their houses inundated during rains.
While interacting with the residents they lamented that several houses in the area do not have access even to Cauvery water, which forces them to buy water from tanker operators every four days.
“The roads were constructed only to be riddled with potholes. The drains were constructed in an unplanned manner and even a light shower inundates our house. If the roads and drains are constructed in a planned way, it would be a great relief,” said Abdul Qaudir, a local resident.
The garbage accumulated in the aftermath of rains has begun emanating putrid smell and the residents have to live with it the stench. When it rains they often end up in drains and obstruct the flow of water.
The potholes have become a nightmare for the commuters and accidents are quite common.
Aisha Ahmad has been residing at Tooba layout for more than two decades and regrets having built her house in a locality where the garbage is not cleaned and is worried about various diseases the children in a locality may get exposed to.
“I came to the layout in 1994, and since then I have hardly seen any improvement in terms of infrastructure or cleanliness. The piling up of garbage leads to outbreak of water borne diseases. Despite several complaints to the corporators, successive governments have hardly done anything,” she lamented.
Ms Ahmad said the corporators are seen in the area only during elections and disappear once they come to power.
Every monsoon this locality makes headlines for flooding, but no proper mechanism has ever been taken to either get build a proper drain network or a durable road. Accidents are quite common on these roads.
On reaching the spot, Deccan Chronicle found that though rag pickers are seen collecting waste, but there was no sign of BBMP pourakarmikas.
Road repairs to begin after monsoon, says PV Manjunath
Q&A with the Corporator P.V. Manjunath
The roads if not repaired could lead to accidents during rains as the area gets flooded. Are there any plans of getting it fixed?
Tooba layout gets inundated because it is a low lying area. Moreover, the roads were recently constructed, but the heavy rains over the past one week has ruined it. The repair works will start once the monsoon gets over.
Why have the drains not been constructed?
Look, the funds have been cleared by the government and we have got Rs 60 crore to construct the storm water drains in the area. But drain works could not be completed due to encroachments at various places. We plan to clear the encroachments and then repair the roads.
Is the BBMP cooperating with you in maintaining the cleanliness of the locality?
I do not have any issues with the civic body. They are doing their best in ensuring cleanliness. We will ensure that the garbage is removed regularly