Meters everywhere, but no water to drink in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Little did R Appaji Gowda know that his retirement home in Royal County layout in the Gottigere ward, off Bannerghatta Road, would make him run from pillar to post instead of give him the rest he hoped for.

At least 13 families that bought sites here years ago are chasing authorities to get water supply connections. All that they have now are water meters.

"I bought a site in 2001. The 55-acre layout was developed jointly by the Royal Realty and BDA in a 30:70 ratio. That is 30 per cent of sites are allotted by the BDA and the rest by the developer. The BWSSB blames BDA for not laying pipes and vice-versa. We got water meters two years ago but no water," Gowda said.

While some parts of the layout have pipes supplying water, houses on the irst main, second cross and second main roads do not have connectivity .


Open man-holes pose a threat for residents. Arumugam, a dialysis patient, says: "We got it cleaned last week but it is now full again. We came here two years ago when my techie son bought this house. Imagine living right next to it. Somebody is stealing the lids."

At Rajathadri Layout, residents suffer a stench from the garbage dumped in a vacant site. "This is the only major problem we have. The land is under dispute. We are also trying to prevent late-night dumping here," said Subramanyam Poojari, a retired MICO employee. Gottigere frequently witnesses grid locks as narrow roads in Kothnur and Jambusavari Dinne are used as thoroughfares to reach Electronics City , which locals say is a 20-minute drive.