In city minister’s home, there’s lots to do to set house in order

BENGAlURU: Sarvagnanagar assembly segment — which is predominantly a residential suburb — has been represented in the Assembly by KJ George, incumbent minister for Bengaluru development. Even though the constituency elected George (for two consecutive terms) — who went on to win chief minister Siddaramaiah’s trust and become a powerful minister — the constituency is battling issues that range from rise in crime rate to infrastructure gaps. The localsspoke to say some of their problems are irregular supply of piped water, clogged storm water drains, floods during rains, broken waste management system, high crime rate and lack of women’s safety. “We get water twice a week. Sometimes even that does not happen. Most of us depend on borewell water but that’s contaminated. This is the problem throughout the year and it’s worse in summer,” says George KX, president of Hennur Ballari Road (HBR) residents welfare association.

MIX OF URBAN POOR AND RICH

The Sarvagnanagar assembly segment, which came into existence in 2008, consists of 3.34 lakh voters and eight BBMP wards. They are: Nagawara, Banaswadi, HBR Layout, Kammanahalli, Lingarajapuram, Kacharakanahalli, Kadugondanahalli and Maruthisevanagar. Once a sleepy residential suburb, these localities saw rapid urbanisation after the construction of the Outer Ring Road and its proximity to tech firms and the international airport. Some of the areas are cosmopolitan in nature and home to multibrand outlets, educational institutions and high-end restaurants.

ISSUES

With a large migrant population, most of whom are from foreign countries, the residents of Kammanahalli fear rampant drug trafficking, chain snatchers and lack of women’s safety. In wards such as Banaswadi, HBR Layout and Lingarajapuram, it’s the shortage of water and inconsistent garbage collection that are making a lot of noise.

The residents of the remaining three wards — Kacharakanahalli, Kadugondanahalli and Maruthisevanagar, which has a large chunk of urban poor population, are in need of basic civic amenities. Even the portion of Nagawara and Kadugondanahalli rank poorly in infrastructure development.

Prithvi Reddy, convener of Aam Aadmi Party in the state, and a candidate from the segment, promises action if elected.

“The past MLAs and the corporators did nothing for residents. Building Hennur flyover took nine years and the cost went up five times while the authorities have no ideas as to how they can ease congestion at Mukunda theatre flyover,” he said. “The area below Lingarajapuram flyover has turned out to be a garbage dump and public toilet,” he added.

POLITICS

While KJ George has won from the constituency twice with a ticket from Congress, the BJP has not been successful in giving a good fight in the Assembly elections, despite having three representatives in the BBMP council. With AAP and SDPI fielding candidates in the 2018 elections, the contest is going to turn even more interesting.