Radioactive waste, crime, forest fires: in Adarsha Layout a ‘hell’ in the making

Vasudha Zora | NT

Bengaluru: Adarsha Layout which comes under the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) close to the Turlahalli of Talaghattapura has been juggling with many civic issues for long.

The burgeoning population adjacent to the forest area has resulted in people setting up businesses and building independent houses in the vicinity. Many industries have also come up amidst the fast pace development that the area is currently experiencing. However, people have been suffering due to negligence in governance. The residents close to the forest areas and homeowners feel they are being cheated by authorities.

In the name of development, the area, in recent times, has been a witness to an exponential rise in incidents of crimes. The police department acknowledges that the crime in the area has grown exponentially. Recent forest fire in the Turlahalli jungle is a pointer to it. The police have to put the loitering troublemakers in the area in temporary jails as the police station is being renovated.

Karthika Narayana, a frequent dog walker and resident of the layout said, “Many times when I walk my dogs towards the factory and the grounds, I have come across people dumping all sorts of garbage. On closer inspection, I could detect biochemical wastes and hospital bandages and many unidentified drug bottles. I have reached out to cops and have asked for a better vigilance of the area.”

Naida, an artist who has been regularly photographing the forest of Turhalli in the unrestricted areas said, ”I paint and for inspiration this is the nearest forest to my house. In the past five years, I have witnessed very significant changes. The forest lands have always seen tribal settlers, who encroached on lands but after a few months disappeared. I have come across miscreants trying to light fires. I have also seen the burnt forest limits from time to time. I come here every Sunday.”

With new roads replacing older ones and independent houses coming up, the forest usually sees a large amount of construction debris being dumped. Further, the garbage from nearby households and commercial spaces are thrown around everywhere. Come rains, the dumped garbage plays havoc with the lives of local residents.

There are, however, responsible residents in the area who have made proper arrangements for ensuring collection of garbage by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) garbage trucks that visit the area every alternate day and clear the garbage.

Adding to the absence of proper garbage disposal arrangements is the radioactive waste being dumped by nearby industrial units. It has taken a great toll on the health of the locals who live under constant fear of being infected by the hazardous waste. As if this was not enough, sporadic incidents of forest fire further make life miserable for the people living in the area.

When the News Trail reporter confronted the authorities with these numerous problems they indulged in blame-game. One official who spoke to this reporter said that it was solely the responsibility of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to cater to the basic civic needs of the area that come under their jurisdiction. Meanwhile, people continue to suffer.