It's all filth and grime behind tech facade in Bengaluru's Whitefield Marathahalli belt

BENGALURU: Garudachar Palya is where the International Software Technology Park stands. One of the eight wards in the Whitefield Marathahalli belt, it ranks 171 among the 198 wards in the city.

It scored 3.62 over 10 for living conditions -water supply and general livability -according to a Janaagraha study.Pathetic roads, polluted lakes, dengue and deplorable living conditions are all part and parcel of this ward.

“It is a stark image. You have a multibillion-dollar corporation that is changing the world and right behind it is Pattandur Agrahara that has no toilets, no roads, no development...nothing!" said Anjali Saini, CFO at Fiorano Software housed in the ITPB.

Pattandur Agrahara presents a sorry tale. Sewage seeps into drinking water pipes, the drains are open and the footpath slabs are broken.Residents complain of foul smell from the Nallurhalli lake. “Dengue is rampant in the area. A majority of my patients -90% -have viral fever or dengue. The area has a lot of garbage and stagnating water," said Dr Jayashankar CA, who runs a clinic in the area.

The road behind Brigade Metropolis that leads to ITPB and the surrounding industrial areas is dotted with potholes. “When it rains, water rises to more than three feet on this road," said Venkatesh K, a businessman and resident.

Low-lying power cables pose another threat, residents point out. The cables are hardly a few feet above homes and may come into contact with unsuspecting passersby .