BENGALURU: Once considered southeast Asia’s premier, oldest and largest industrial enclave,
Peenya Industrial Area
is facing a bunch of problems. Filled with potholed roads and worn-off surfaces and industrial waste and garbage lying all over the place,
BBMP chief commissioner Gaurav Gupta
got a first-hand taste of the sad state of affairs when he visited the locality on Saturday.
An upset Gupta immediately issued an ultimatum to his officers to address all issues pertaining to basic facilities and infrastructure. “All streetlights should be working and potholes fixed in a week. A special team will be deployed on Tuesday to check and clear solid waste,” Gupta told mediapersons later.
Established in 1970s by the Karnataka Small Industries Development Corporation, Peenya Industrial Area is still deprived of quality infrastructure though it is hub of thousands of small and mediumscale units. Gupta, his officers and Manunath, MLA from Dasarahalli under which Peenya falls, held a meeting with Peenya Industries Association (PIA) before inspecting the area.
“PIA has been making repeated requests to BBMP to improve infrastructure to help industrial units run smoothly. Goods transportation is a problem because of huge potholes. Streets are waterlogged at a whiff of rain,” PIA president Prakash C said.
Solid waste management has become a bone of contention between BBMP and PIA. “Garbage is not being picked up from any industrial unit. BBMP officials send letters warning to penalise us instead of picking up solid waste,” rued Prakash.
Gupta, however, promised PIA office-bearers that basic facilities and infrastructure will be addressed. He said drains stretching up to 4-5km need to be desilted, encroachments at a few spots will be removed and 14th main road will be developed immediately.
Migrant workers to get jabsGiven that Peenya Industrial Area employs lakhs of people, many of whom are migrants, the BBMP chief directed his team to ensure all migrants are vaccinated. "As part of the drive, at least 400 persons should be vaccinated every day,” he said.
PIA is demanding township status for their area. “Once it becomes an industrial township, a separate department will take care of infrastructure development,” Prakash said.
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