Lack of amenities makes life hell in Arekere locality

BENGALURU: Residents of Avni Shri ngeri Nagar are coping with poor basic amenities like roads, streetlights and water. The locality, on either side of a 100-metre road, is home to 150 families living in three apartments. The access road is not motorable and has become an accident-prone stretch which has over seven non-functional streetlights.

"We're fighting with Bescom, BBMP and BWSSB to get basic facilities," said Bhagyalakshmi Murali, corporator of Arekere (ward 193) under which the locality falls. A reality check on Monday revealed the road lacked asphalting and resembled an off-roading bike track. Residents said they have complained multiple times to the Palike, but to no avail.

" We've been living in this locality for over three years and the road has not been fixed since then. The corporation has not attended to our problems," Samrat Mitra, a resident of Hulimavu, said.

As the sun sets, the locality's road is steeped in darkness as it lacks streetlights, "We're forced to use our mobile phone torches if we have to walk on the road after dusk," Harish Rajashekar, a local, said.

The locality has no piped water supply and is completely dependent on borewells. "During summer, the ground water level plummets and we're forced to call water tankers which charge us a lot," added Harish.

Residents said their pleas to BBMP to install streetlights only resulted in the civic body pointing fingers at Bescom. "When we spoke to the assistant executive engineer of Bommanhalli, he said it's Bescom's responsibility. We're badly affected by the blame game," added Kethki Khanolkar, also a resident.

"The BBMP has not earmarked enough funds for our ward, said Bhagyalakshmi Murali, adding: "We've received a budget of Rs 3 crore. How can one expect any development work with this amount? We're waiting for the work order. Once that is processed, the work will be finished within two months."