Bengaluru: The Indian Telephone Industry (ITI) Residents’ Colony is known for its lush green cover and quiet neighbourhood, but of late, it’s turning into a dump yard with residents and public from surrounding areas throwing their garbage indiscriminately in the colony.
Those staying in Ramamurthy Nagar and K.R. Puram come to the colony only to dump their garbage as it is not monitored by any security guard, the residents complain. The stretch of the colony, which has a temple, is strewn with garbage, making it impossible for people living nearby as the stench and mosquito menace have become unbearable.
An ITI official said, “We had posted two security guards on the stretch, but it was not possible to contain dumping of garbage as people find other places inside the colony to dump garbage. We cleaned the stretch several times with the help of BBMP but in vain. We have placed several concrete bins in the colony, but no one uses them properly. We are aware of the problem and are trying to find a proper solution. The BBMP should also take stringent measures and implement strict rules.”
He said, “The guards who were posted on that road were threatened when they questioned the public. The guards complained to us that it was difficult to work with threats every day.” Till recently, the stretch was being used by walkers and joggers, but not anymore as packs of stray dogs feed on the garbage. Mr Alex Peter, a daily walker, said, “Hundreds of people come to the colony for their early morning and evening walk or jog, because the colony is cool and quiet. But now, due to irresponsible public, who dump the garbage inside the colony, it has made it worse. After dark, it is impossible to walk on the stretch because of mosquitoes.”
Mr Arun Gopal, who earlier stayed in the colony while his father was serving with the ITI, said, “We don’t find such greenery in the entire city and it is the duty of the people residing in the colony to take strict measures and to ensure that no one uses the colony to dump garbage. It is an area that is several decades old and I request all the people who had worked with ITI and are still working to come together and draw an effective plan to save the ITI Colony from such menace.”
