Ignored by the authorities and left neglected

BANGALORE:  Umar Bagh layout is a marginally small locality located off NH 209 in close proximity to JP Nagar.While everyone talks of the progressive steps (such as the metro) that are leading Bangalore into a bright future, this particular area is facing threats of turning into a slum due to the severe deterioration.The most striking problems that the region probably faces are practically no tarred roads, open drains, huge craters, garbage disposed off on the roads and manholes in the centre of the road.The residents say that despite several complaints to the concerned authorities, no action has ever been taken.No roads to drive on The area has no tarred roads to speak of.The few mud roads that are present are filled with large craters.People living here are worst affected during the monsoons as the region is a low lying area and their pathetic state of living is just aggravated.The lack of street lights in the area possess multifold risks that also seem to have been disregarded.Beware: Manholes under construction A manhole is covered with pebbles, cement and mud in the heart of the locality.It protrudes out causing major hassles to the commuters.While mud roads seem to be the story of the complete locality anyway, the few tarred roads have manholes that are either sinking or rise above the road level.See an empty plot;Dump garbage Garbage has been dumped in every available empty plot.In a few areas, they have been haphazardly discarded onto the streets.The spillage from the vacant sites are seen covering the roads drawing its share of cattle and stray dogs.This causes the parents of numerous kids who go out to play to worry due to the increasing cases of diseases such as malaria and dengue.Open drains: The most pressing problem of the locality is the condition of the drains.They have been left open.They overflow onto the road.Even the drains haven’t been spared as waste has been dumped into them too leading to blockage in several areas.The stench exuding from the same is unbearable and as this narrates the story for almost the complete locality, the residents say that it has an adverse affect on their psyche.The recent death of the ragpicker near Kumbaragundi doesn’t seem to have woken the authorities into preventing such accidents.Illegal service station? The residents make serious claims that illegal service centre has been running in the area.Ayub Khan, a resident said, “The pollution due to this is perilous as there are lead sprays and dumping of the wastes of the service centre.Our children are affected due to the late night noise and the health implications it can have are many.” Public views: “The situation here is deplorable.It’s high time the authorities did something to improve our state.I’m scared for our children,” asserted a resident, on the condition of anonymity, as he held his three year old child.A visitor to the area, Sarita Lulla, remarked, “I was here to visit a friend a mine.The situation here is appalling.It’s like the place is so detached from the rest of the city and nobody seems to notice the sad state in which it has been left in.” Authorities’ views: The newly elected local corporator of the area is A.H.Basavraj.He informed City Express that a meeting had been scheduled to discuss the same.“We have started calling for tenders.We are trying to set everything and I will ensure that everything will be sorted out soon.”