City's oldest commercial centre, also the most neglected

The city’s oldest commercial centre right within the Central Business District is in a shambles. Residents and commercial dwellers have been residing in areas such as Nagrathpete, Halsurpete and Kalasipalya for decades without getting any attention from BBMP or the corporators.

This is the truth of Chickpet constituency, which on the one hand houses the most oldest parts of Bengaluru and some posh upscale localities on the other. But problems abound in all wards. The areas lack even basic facilities inluding proper roads. The garbage and mosquito menace are serious challenges for the residents here.

Areas such as Nagrathpete, Halsurpete and Kalasipalya do not have proper drinking water supply, clean roads and sanitary connections. Roads are narrow and poorly maintained. Cattle grazing and feeding on piled up garbage on road sides are common sights here. People are compelled to tolerate the stench of overflowing drains and black spots while walking around.

Chickpet constituency has seven wards– Sudhamanagar, Dharmarayaswamy Temple, Sunkenahalli, Vishveshwarapuram, Siddapura, Hombegowda Nagar and Jayanagar. It also houses some developed areas such as Basavanagudi, Jayanagar first and second blocks, Wilson Garden, Gandhi Bazaar and Vishveshwarapuram. Lalbagh- the largest and oldest lung space is here. These areas are well-maintained with proper Cauvery water connection, wide, well-maintained roads, drainage connections, regular door-to-door garbage collection and regular sweeping.

But outside these areas are wards facing utter neglect. People in and around Nagrathpete have a list of complaints for their corporator, who never visited them. According to Purushottam, a shopkeeper at Cubbonpet, the roads are never clean. The single-lane roads are very narrow. People could be seen struggling to walk amid cattle, cars, two-wheelers, bicycles, tempos and even trucks. Only a few stretches have footpaths that are encroached by vendors and garbage heaps. Some have also been made parking stands.

People have been staying in Nagrathpete, Cubbonpete and Hulsurpete for over three decades. There are many shops, silk and paper factories and cloth printing units.
Rukmini N, a resident of Cubbonpet, said the BBMP park here is ill maintained. It is impossible to go there as it has become a mosquito breeding ground due to presence of garbage heaps and waterlogging. Amusement equipment for children are also broken.
Lalitha Lalwani, a resident of Nagrathpet said that though they get Cauvery water it comes only till the ground floor. They are forced to carry buckets up to two floors. Mosquitoes are a major problem and the BBMP has never done fogging. They do not even come and clear the garbage. Corners of roads have become permanent dump sites.

Totally neglected market

Worst of all is Kalasipalya. It is from the market here that most Bengalureans, hotels and restaurants get their vegetables and fruits. But no one ever pays attention to the upkeep of this market.

Khatil Pervez, a vendor, had this to say: “We are forced to live with the stench every day. This, despite the fact that we are dealing with perishable commodities consumed by people for a healthy life. Garbage is piled up for months together and it is not cleared. Loaded garbage trucks are parked inside and outside the premises. The BBMP officials always complain that the load is too much and they are unable to manage it.”

This uncleared garbage dump attracts cattle, rodents, street dogs, mosquitoes and other insects. “It is impossible to keep or manage the items in such a menace. There is no one to listen to us. Matters become worse during monsoons when all the sanitary waste and garbage get mixed and flow around,” added Imam Pasha.

Unkept public toilets

Both buyers and vendors complain of a severe lack of maintenance in the public toilets. Most of the times, there is no water supply. When it is released, the water overflows. “We are forced to pay Rs 5-10, each time we use the toilet. This is also a major health risk,” said Kumar, a shopkeeper at Kalasipalya.

Same is the case in some parts of Sudhamanagar, which is connected to Kalasipalya. Malamma T, a resident said, “Since there is no drainage connection, we have to use the public toilet. Though it is free, it is very dirty and smelly. We have to carry buckets of water each time. This is very uncomfortable for women, especially young girls, senior citizens and pregnant women.”

Paid pourakarmikas

Residents in niche areas such as V V Puram and Gavipuram are forced to pay the pourakarmikas to sweep the roads and regularly collect the garbage from their homes. “It has become a monthly affair for us. The pourakarmikas get monthly salary. Despite that, they ask us to pay them money every month to pick up garbage. We also have to pay the sweepers. But it is no point as all the garbage is dumped on road sides,” lamented Jyothi Prakash of Girinagar.

The residents of Dharmarayaswamy Temple and Sudhamanagar wards echoed the same complaints. “We are forced to bribe the workers to clean the areas. The BBMP does not take serious note of this” said Parvathi, a resident of Cubbonpete.