Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

Taxpayers pool funds, repair road

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore Dec. 2. About 800 families living in apartment blocks and individual houses at Pai Layout in Krishnarajapuram believed that their problem would be solved when the CMC elections were held four months ago.

But their hopes were dashed when .the CMC failed to act on their pleas to repair the two main roads in the layout. The Pai Layout Residents' Welfare Association has decided to repair and relay the roads at its own expense.

On Tuesday, the association Vice-President, Jayaraman, and the Committee member, S. Vishwanathan, were seen supervising workmen repairing the first main road.

"Once the work is completed on this road, we will take up the second main and completely relay it also. It may cost us close to Rs. one lakh and all residents are contributing.

The local Lions Club and some builders developing properties in the area are also funding the work," Mr. Vishwanathan said.

The 65-year-old resident said after the last rains, roads in the layout had become impossible to walk on and two-wheelers had been frequently skidding and their riders suffered injuries.

For schoolchildren and the aged it was difficult to walk, avoiding the mud, and puddles after every rain. The residents had approached the CMC even before the elections, when they were told that repair of roads would be taken up if all arrears of property taxes were deposited and all property registration completed. "We did all that and then were told to wait till the elections were over but nothing has been done in the past four months.

Representatives of the residents association must have gone to the CMC office at least 25 times by now," Mr. Vishwanathan said.

Mr. Jayaraman said: "Lack of funds is the excuse given by the CMC which must have collected large amounts in recent years from the residents of new layouts. It will be difficult for people to live if even basic amenities such as proper roads and adequate streetlights are not provided''.

Enquiries showed that residents of other neighbourhoods in K.R. Puram had similar problems. They felt that the approaches to the cable-stayed bridge had not been properly planned.

They complained that Rs. 1.6 crore spent on rejuvenating Krishnarajapuram Lake had gone waste, as the lake had remained as polluted as ever.

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