BWSSB's slow work troubles Begur residents

BENGALURU: Dug-up and potholed roads are troubling residents of Classic Paradise Layout in Begur, between Hosur Road and Bannerghatta Road, thanks to the chequered progress in BWSSB's work to lay Cauvery water supply pipelines and underground drainage network.
On Saturday, two cars got stuck in a portion of the Classic Paradise Layout Main Road that had caved in. Exasperated residents have decided to hold an overnight protest this weekend. They'll block vehicular movement till the MLA and the corporator take steps to fix the roads. They are angry that their blockade of Begur Main Road ten days ago did not evoke any positive response from the authorities.
In April-May last year, BWSSB began digging up the roads to lay Cauvery pipes and finish the underground drainage network, but the works are being halted repeatedly. "After sending emails to the CM, the DyCM, the chief secretary and BWSSB among others, the work resumed in October, only to be halted again in a week," said Kiran N, a resident of Begur.
"The roads are either dug up or filled with potholes. Water accumulates in potholes, turning them into cesspools," rued KS Sundaram, a resident.
The residents have shot off over 20 emails to 40 government officials, but in vain. They said the AEE of the BWSSB has put the blame on the MLA for meandering the work. "The MLA had shifted the works to another locality on priority," added Kiran.
Begur corporator M Anjinappa blamed the BWSSB engineers and the MLA for the snail's pace of work."We've told the engineers to finish the work soon, but they have failed. The MLA has not even bothered to visit these roads," said Anjinappa.
BWSSB executive engineer Pradeep BK said: "We've done everything we could and now, BBMP needs to finish the work. The weather is not favourable. The MLA also asked us to shift work to Akshayanagar, another area in Begur," he added.
Bengaluru South MLA M Krishnappa said the works had to be shifted to Akshayanagar because of an emergency. "Water was entering several houses there and we had to attend to it immediately. Tomorrow, I'll inspect the place and ensure that the problem is resolved. By July end, we'll have proper roads," he said.