BANGALORE: Residents, merchants and other locals of Laggere protested against the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) for causing troubles to the residents of the area. More than 1,000 shops on the main road of Laggere remained closed. This includes around 15 hotels, 50 textile shops, 20 confectionery stores and others. According to Narayanaswamy, president to Rajarajeshwari Legislative Assembly JD(S) and a resident of Laggere, “BWSSB has dug up the road to fix pipes. Almost since an year, work is under progress. But the Board has left the dug up space vacant. These pits are a nuisance to the pedestrians and commuters. Many have been injured after falling in the pit. Very recently, a motorist died, because of the bad condition of the road,” he said. He added that locals were ailing from dust infections.Srinivasappa, a resident of Laggere said that the area has houses that are stretched out to four kms distance with nearly 75,000 to one lakh residents. “With huge trenches having been dug out, there is no connectivity since the buses are not able to ply passengers on this road. It is very inconvenient,” he said.Merchant’s takeUday, who owns a cyber centre on Laggere main road said, he owns a shop for the past seven years but never faced such as problems. He opined that ever since BWSSB has taken up the work, it looks there is no end for dust on that road. “I am suffering loss due to the ongoing work. Along with other businessmen, I have lodged a complaint, but in vain. Every time, we only get assurances but no work has been done,” he said.While Arun who runs a shoe store said that due to dust, not many people preferred going to his shop. “I have purchased a machine worth `3,500 to only clean the dust. Though, we clean it every 20 minutes, dust will gather again. New footwear look old, he said. Bhujangaraya, a real estate agent in Laggere said that, of late not many were preferring to buy or rent a house in Laggere. “Many newly constructed houses are lying vacant for the past few months,” he said.Councillor saysLakshmikanth Reddy, Laggere councillor said that Urban Development Minister had announced to provide Cauvery water to entire Bangalore. Hence, BWSSB is fixing water pipes from Kottegepalya to Peenya via Laggere. R K Srinath, Assistant Executive Engineer, BWSSB said, “Out of three kilometers stretch, we have completed 2.2 kms. The remaining work will be completed in another one or two months,” he added.
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