20 May,2011 07:12 AM IST | | Sheetal Sukhija
Basavanagudi residents are allegedly being bullied by project site engineer for complaining about deplorable roads conditions, open drains in area
For over two years since work on the Metro started in Basavanagudi, residents of R V Road have been subjected to constant nuisances.
Firstly, it was the excavations on the roads that led to traffic snarls in the area and now, two drains have been left open for months. The situation got worse last week after a resident complained of being threatened by a Metro engineer.
Death trap? Two persons have fallen into the open drains at RV Road in
Basavanagudi during heavy rains this month. Pic/Satish Badiger
Abusive officials
"We have been shuffling between the BBMP and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) offices for over a year now requesting them to clear the mess. Even after assurances that something would be done, no action has been taken. Last week when I approached the BMRCL site office, an engineer shut the door and threatened to break my legs if I kept complaining. This behaviour is simply unacceptable," said H Khan, a resident.
Reacting to the same, other residents claim that their pleas have been falling on deaf ears for two years now.
Parveen A, Secretary of the Crescent Women's Wing explains, "The BBMP officials have told us that until the Metro construction is complete, the area cannot be cleared. The open drains has been creating a big problem and two persons have slipped and fallen into it during heavy rains. Accidents occur during the night, but despite all this, we support the Metro because it is for our own good. However, that does not mean that we should be treated in such a way."
Quite impolite?
Residents even lament that the BMRCL site office of their area remains locked for almost four days a week.
"Every time we approach them, they either abuse us verbally or just shirk off responsibility. We've been living in this locality for over 20 years now and this is not how they should be treating us when we approach them with a grievance," complained a resident.
The resident association has written polite letters to the BMRCL many times and they've even approached the BBMP Corporator Gangambika (Ward no 153), but have received no positive response. Malika Subhan, a resident said, "My husband suffered from chikungunya because of the stench from the open drain and one of our neighbours suffered a fractured knee as a result of falling into the drain."
In response to the complaints filed by the residents, the BBMP Corporator arrived in the area for an inspection. However, she claimed that there could be no permanent solution, as the Metro would continue to disrupt
the normal cleaning process.
Meanwhile, BMRCL
officials confirmed receiving a written complaint about the threat. BMRCL PRO Yashwant Chauhan however, has not started investigating the matter yet. "Once I receive a written complaint, I will investigate the matter duly.
Our engineers are not goons and if something like this has happened, it will be looked into," he said.
The residents, fearing repercussions, have not approached the police yet.
