10 years on, pourakarmikas yet to receive flats at BDA’s Alur residential complex

Abandoned BDA-built complex in Alur meant for pourakarmikas remains vacant due to poor coordination between BDA and BBMP.

The residential complex built by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for the pourakarmikas at Alur has turned into ghost houses with none occupied even ten years after the completion of the project, thanks to the poor coordination between the BDA and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Located in the northern part of Bengaluru, Alur village is about 25 km from the Central Business District and is governed by the village panchayat. BDA, BBMP and BWSSB decided to build the complex in this village due to the non-availability of land in the city. This apartment complex, which has about 400 single BHK (bedroom, hall, kitchen) flats, was built in 2014-2015.

Being nearly abandoned, the vacant portion of the premises has become a dumping yard for garbage. On the other hand, with no maintenance of the building cracks have surfaced on the walls, kitchens slabs have broken and some miscreants have also dumped waste inside the rooms. In the present condition, even if the flats are given to the civic workers, they may think twice to occupy, say civic workers and leaders of the unions. 

H.R Shantarajanna, Engineer Member (Chief Engineer), BDA talking to The Hindu said the BDA is not at fault as the BBMP is yet to share the list of beneficiaries with the authority. The BWSSB shared a list of 46 beneficiaries following which the BDA has initiated the process to handover the flats to the water board. Unless the BBMP shares a list of beneficiaries the flats cannot be handed over to the civic body, be said. However, Mr. Shantarajanna did not comment about the poor maintenance of the building. 

On the other hand, R. Prathibha, Joint Commissioner, Solid Waste Management Department, BBMP said for the civic body to prepare the list of the beneficiaries, the BDA should handover the units.

C.N. Anand, Pourakarmikara Parivartana Sangha said, “Firstly, building a complex 25 km away from the city is impractical as civic workers have to commute daily to sweep the roads. As the building is already completed, it is the responsibility of the BDA and the BBMP to work in tandem to select the eligible workers as beneficiaries. Now the building is lying vacant and it appears the local panchayat and citizens of the village are using the premises as a dumping yard. The authorities should act fast to provide flats to the civic workers,” he said. 

Nagamma, a senior civic worker said “it pains to see how ignorant the BBMP and BDA are towards the Pourakarmikas. We are the wheels of the city without which the city will come to standstill. How can someone live in a place which is full of garbage and in flats that are in poor plight. The BDA has to clear the garbage and fix the flats before giving them to the beneficiaries.”