The Hindu : 256 families face an uncertain future

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

256 families face an uncertain future

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Nov. 11. The people who were shifted from the unsafe blocks of the EWS (economically weaker section) Housing Complex near Koramangala and housed in tents are worried about their future. However, their immediate concern is that it might rain, and the household goods that they managed to salvage may get damaged.

"Rains will definitely add to our problems. It will be like `out of the frying pan into the fire'. We have no money to move into better houses," they say.

Although the former residents of the quarters, most of whom are daily-wage earners, knew that the flats were structurally unsafe, they continued to live there as they had no alternative. "But we are now out in the open and don't know what the future holds. I have two grown-up granddaughters and wonder how safe it is for us to stay in the open like this," one of the evacuees, Lalithamma, says.

Rouquiya Bee and Pyarejan feel their condition is worse than that of the people who live in the L.R. Nagar slum nearby. "They have a permanent shelter with water and sanitation facilities. We are not that lucky," they say.

But they are thankful to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) for taking quick steps to shift them from the EWS Housing Complex. The BMP has put up tents for the evacuees, and is providing food, water, and medical facilities round the clock. To give privacy to the 256 affected families, individual sheds measuring 15 ft. by 10 ft., with asbestos roofs, are being put up. Officials of the BMP are awaiting a report from the Torsteel Research Foundation on the condition of buildings at the EWS complex to decide on a course of action.

However, the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar EWS Residential Welfare Association blames the BMP and the owners of the flats for the situation. "Though we complained to the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, and the BMP Commissioner, M.R. Sreenivas Murthy, on October 16, about the condition of the building, no action was taken," association members allege.

But, BMP officials say that the flats were sold in 1992, and as per the lease-cum-sale agreement, the owners have to take up repairs. They allege that the owners have sublet the flats. "Despite this, we took up electrical repairs at a cost of Rs. 60 lakh under the `18 per cent grants scheme' two years ago."

The BMP plans to conduct a revenue survey to identify the owners of the flats at the EWS complex. Of the 1,512 flats, 1,426 were allotted, and their owners owe the BMP Rs. 6.71 crore.

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