THE OTHER SIDE

THE OTHER SIDE OF BANGALORE

Bangalore the dream city…….. Remember……….surprised …..Part 2…… not likely!
The traffic volume was at its lowest ebb during the year 19998 but recently it has increased tremendously. At that time there were efficient traffic authorities to manage the traffic as not that of today, within or less than 20 minutes we could reach our destinations. Quite right Bangalore had been different those days where we use to hold cricket match practices on the main roads of Koramangala in order to prepare for tournaments which were held in stadiums and parks only, the tournaments were only for 22 overs each side.
Poverty is yet another feature prevailing in Bangalore and Karnataka, as it can be seen that the poor people do not have enough milk to feed their babies and neither from their mother’s breasts too (as a kid which I had also experienced on).
The lakes have almost subsided as earlier we had about 400 lakes and an equal number of tanks but now you could literally count the lakes and tanks on your fingers and indeed now we talk about rain harvesting? Where is the land or the space to do so?
Because of the above disappearance of the lakes and tanks the migratory birds are a few now. The Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, Lores,White Eyes, Garblers, the Fly Catchers, the Stone Curlew, Black Bucks, Babblers, the Redheaded Merlin the Redstart, the Jungle Bush Quail, Wood Shrike, White browned Bulbul, Crow Pheasant and the Grey Partridge have disappeared from the city………naming a few………Few ? The disappearance of tank beds has been also responsible for their disappearance. Little Grebe & Green Heron are not visitors anymore! Rightly so, Bangalore has been a result of poor planning and management on hand as the lakes are filled with rubbish.
Education has been another feature. The middle class and the poor people in India are forced to study in inadequately equipped schools where there are no playgrounds and no toilets. Those fortunate enough to undergo education do not find teachers ready to teach them. Has enough been done for the teachers? Do we need to propagate education if this is the situation?
Thefts, robberies and crime have been other prevalent features of Bangalore. Bangalore has now turned into the city of crimes as the girls working in the call centres are either kidnapped or murdered. Elderly people, even sisters and daughters are not left alone which maybe either due to money or revenge. ‘Neighbourhood Watch’ prevalent earlier is not in prominence as the police have turned a blind eye towards the criminal activities of the criminals. Cases are not often registered by the police. The ‘Hoysala’ which was the main attraction is nowhere in the picture in the present days.
The citizens of Bangalore have become too lazy as they can now easily acquire money for themselves but have forgotten their love & compassion towards others for them to reach to their current position which been of primary importance. Money has been the necessary Evil corresponding to the Competitiveness Spirit of all the people of Bangalore. Political gimmicks have also added its flavour to Bangalore. Will our so called the younger generation see Bangalore………………as Singapore?
Namma Bangalore is known as the dream city, garden city, pensioner’s paradise, the silicon valley of India, granite capital, air conditioned city, pub city, the living city, the fashion capital, floricultural capital. But are these enough? Could we not do better by adding more names to the list?
Bangalore sure has a long way to go to become Singapore in the years to come!

From:
Manu Nair.