When a citizen pays taxes, s/he expects better infrastructure, better standard of living and better use of their hard-earned money. But, what do we get in return? Bare minimal. We get building or bridge or a new dam collapse, roads filled with potholes, garbage lying around a city and a lot of other things that makes the standard of living pretty average or at times even less.
But, putting their foot down and demanding a better standard of living are people of Bengaluru. On October 14, the residents of Marathahalli stood and formed a human chain of around 2 kilometres.
Their demands? Better roads, drainage system and safe drinking water.
Organised by the Outer Ring Road Marathahalli Residents’ Association, there were over 500 people – from children to youngsters to elders – forming a human chain and demanding the basic prerequisites for a decent life.
The residents are complaining about the clogged drains, potholes and bad roads, bad drainage system and slammed the BBMP for not fulfilling their duties. They were holding placards that read,
“We want basic infrastructure road, water and drain. We need to walk, not skywalk. We demand a decent atmosphere. Swachh Bharat begins at home, our homes are clean but roads are not.”
The protest that started around 9 a.m. and ended around 12 p.m.
The angry residents silently protested while holding placards. A Deccan Chronicle report quoted a resident, Meena Kumari,
“How do you feel if your house gets flooded with sewage water when it rains? Will BBMP officials and politicians stay if their house is in this condition? Will they not immediately find the root cause and fix the problem?”
The problems have worsened during the monsoon and the people are upset.
It was just last week that an artist had turned a massive city pothole into a mermaid’s aquarium. And, now this. Looks like, Bengalureans are doing all they can, in their might, to catch the government’s attention and also demand their basic rights.