Constituency watch: Flooding and garbage-filled drains choke Vijayanagar

Vijayanagar, named after the medieval empire in which Bengaluru’s founder Kempegowda served as chieftain, does not match the 13th century kingdom’s water supply and drainage network.

Namma Metro may have provided the much-needed connectivity to this south-west Bengaluru locality, but unplanned growth -- proof of which is a garbage-filled Vrishabhavathi river valley of yore -- is choking this four-decadeold residential suburb.

Flooding of the now-dead river during heavy rains has made life miserable for people living near the valley, between Padarayanapura, Gali Anjaneya temple and Outer Ring road. “The primary and tertiary drains are full of garbage, which blocks smooth flow of water.

The solution lies in cleaning the drains and constructing retaining walls on both sides. This has not been done,” Hanumantha Harappa, a BJP functionary said.

Improper garbage collection and bad roads are issues faced by all eight BBMP wards. Wards such as Kempapura Agrahara, Bapuji Nagar and Gali Anjaneya Temple are thickly-populated. Narrow roads and public sanitation are their biggest worries in these parts.

Much of the migrant population --especially from North Karnataka -- prefer this and other localities in West Bengaluru.