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Rains dampen festivities |
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By: Lavanya Srinivasan |
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Date:
2008-10-27 |
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Place: Bangalore |
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Diwali scoop: Vinaya, a resident of Vajpainagar in Bommanahalli, shows a sample of the sump water contaminated due to the flash floods last weekend pic/Ramesh H S | It's raining woes at Vajpainagar. Despite the Diwali fervour elsewhere, this area wears a deserted look after a recent downpour.
The whole area was flooded and many of them had to vacate the place immediately. Water even entered many houses. Now, two days after the rain, the place stinks and has all sorts of creatures moving around.
"This is going to be the grimmest Diwali ever. It's becoming more and more difficult to stay in this place as there is no proper drainage system and during the rainy season it becomes worse," says Jayant, a techie and a resident of Vajpainagar.
There are empty plots in and around the area and during the rainy season, water stagnates and it's mud and slush everywhere.
"It is difficult to even walk. There are dead rats and all sorts of insects and mosquitoes.
No wonder, there are not many residents in this place. It is completely water-logged and very slippery."
'Diwali? Like this?'
Vajpainagar has been completely ignored and though there are very few houses, they are facing a lot of problems.
Water contamination adds to residents' woes in the area. "We don't get Cauvery water here, so we get it from outside and it costs us a bomb every month. It costs Rs 2,000 for drinking water and for other purposes, another Rs 1,000," said Girija Chandrashekar, a housewife. And there is absolutely no talk of Diwali here. The houses look dull with no signs of any colour or lights.
"Diwali? Like this? We had to struggle for the last two days and now there is no water for bathing also.
Seriously, I don't like celebrating Diwali like this," said Vinaya, whose house was badly damaged.
"There is no proper garbage disposal system and it is dumped everywhere. It is difficult to stay in this place for more than five minutes as it stinks. We're just hoping some miracle happens before Diwali," said Jayant.
Residents of Bommenahalli in Vajpainagar, show that the sump water they use is contaminated. Girija a resident of the area says they have to pay a bomb every month to get pure water from elsewhere. Jayant is waiting for some miracle to wash away their woes. |
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