Monday, Nov 29, 2004
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 |
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Bangalore
By Rasheed Kappan
Only a couple of houses have been built in a colony of about 60 20 ft X 30 ft. sites in J.P. Nagar 9th phase II Block.
BANGALORE, NOV. 28. A Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) site is considered the best option for those looking for investing in real estate. But not for a group of about 60 people who have been allotted 20 ft. X 30 ft. BDA plots in J.P. Nagar 9th phase II Block. Owning a BDA site has turned out to be a nightmare for them. For more than five years, they have been waiting for even the basic amenities of power, water, and drainage connections to their colony. The allottees had borrowed money to buy plots in 1999. But to their dismay, only the area having 30 ft. X 40 ft. has been developed. "Out of the 600 BDA sites in J.P. Nagar, 400 are developed. But only a few 20 ft. X 30 ft. plots have been partially developed," said Mr. Vijay Kumar, who had purchased one of these plots from another allottee. When contacted, the BDA officials maintained that work on providing water supply and underground drainage was in progress in the area. All the work would be completed in two months. "Electrification is complete. Road asphalting work will be taken up soon," said the officials. But darkness after dusk in this colony tells a different story. A BDA engineer who was till recently in-charge of the area, said the colony's development had started about three years ago. In some sections, work was yet to begin as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had not laid drainage and water pipes. Even streetlights could be installed only after the drainage pipes were laid, he said. The BDA reportedly acquired a part of the land from a landlord. While there were conflicting reports on whether the acquisition issue was finally settled, the site owners complained that some people had threatened not to permit any construction. Only two families have dared to build houses in the undeveloped 20 ft. X 30 ft. plots. One of them was Nandini Rao, a teacher who built her house five months ago. Today, she has realised that it was a tough decision. "There are no streetlights here. We are managing with a temporary power connection. It costs Rs. 630 for 28 days a month. It is very dangerous for us, staying with a small daughter," she said. Three persons recently attacked her husband near the house. "After 6 p.m., it resembles a jungle. It is worse than revenue land, where at least power connection is provided," she said. The family buys water at the rate of Rs. 200 per tanker. For months, the site owners relied on the assurances of the local engineer. "He kept promising to solve our problems and start building the basic infrastructure with police protection. But now that he has been transferred, we don't know where to go, what to do," said Mr. Kumar. Mr. Kumar had taken a loan of Rs. 2.4 lakhs to pay for the site. "I pay an EMI (equated monthly instalment) of Rs. 4,000 every month, for this bare land. Nobody is even willing to buy the plot from me now. Even brokers are not interested," he said. The fate of most other allottees was no different.
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