Rajakaluve blocked near Karle SEZ in Nagawara, becomes breeding ground for mosquitoes
Recently the Karnataka Legislative Committee for Lake Protection inspected Nagawara for alleged encroachment of storm water drain(SWD) or Rajakaluve by a big and powerful developer – the Karle group. The group is developing the Karle Special Economic Zone. There was a public outcry against the developer and the Koliwad committee listened to both the parties and returned back.
There is no information on what the Koliwad committee may do with regard to the alleged encroachment while the local residents feel that the committee ‘may not do anything’ as the Karle group is highly connected politically.
Local residents up in arms
While in this blog we are not going into the legality of the matter, we are looking at how the closure and diversion of an age-old Rajakaluve is creating health hazard to the local residents. The local residents who have been living here for quite some years are up in arms, complaining that the encroachment of the Rajakaluve and diversion have led to serious health problems, besides being a big eye-sore. The residents show photographs of heaps of garbage in the drain and stagnant water, posing a major health problem. In fact, one resident has undergone treatment for dengue as the place where the group has allegedly blocked has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests.
Authorities turn blind eye
The local residents say the authorities have turned a blind eye to their many pleas. They have been demanding that the Rajakaluve should be allowed to take the original path created generations ago which connects to the main storm water drain down the road towards Nagawara. The residents point out that the Karle Group has blocked the Rajakaluve thus affecting the water flow as designed ages ago. The residents have maps to show the route, but the group has its own documents. While the debate goes on whose documents are right and whose are wrong, the local residents are at risk health-wise.
During rains, the area gets flooded
Right now, the place near Karle SEZ has become a cesspool of dirt(accompanying pictures are self-explanatory), even while the government of India is keenly promoting ‘Swach Bharat’ concept. Sunita, a resident, complained to the Committee on how the spot has become a major health hazard. In fact, some of the residents have taken pictures of the Karle group pumping out water from the storm water drain, one day before the Koliwad committee came for inspections. There has been utter disregard for the ‘Swach Bharat’ campaign as the motive has been to allegedly usurp land. The residents fear that during monsoons this place will become ‘unlivable’ as the area gets flooded.
The residents are urging the committee to study all the old records properly and not just those records given by the Karle group. There are many such encroachments in the city and it is indeed a good job that the government and its agencies are demolishing such structures. The Rajakaluves need to be protected. The residents are sitting on a pile of dirt which one day may become unmanageable. It is indeed time that developers with clout and who are flouting rules are brought to book.