‘We are not asking for a city like London or Paris, all we want is clean water, decent roads’

A public convention was organised by the Ballari Nagarika Horata Samithi (BNHS) at Gandhi Bhavan here on Sunday to highlight long-standing civic issues in the city and demand immediate redressal.

The gathering focused on several pressing concerns, including the need for clean drinking water, proper underground drainage, road repairs, and measures to curb the menace of stray dogs and cattle.

Inaugurating the convention, senior advocate R. Pandu said that Article 21 of the Constitution guaranteed every citizen the right to live with dignity and yet the right has been clearly denied in Ballari.

“Contaminated water is being supplied once every eight-10 days, roads are in poor condition and pollution levels have worsened. The municipal corporation is more focused on collecting taxes rather than addressing civic issues. We are not asking for a city like London or Paris. All we want is clean water, clean air and decent roads,” he asserted.

BNHS district advisor Narasanna remarked, “A nation is not just about its land or borders, but its people. Unfortunately, Ballari’s civic issues show that the authorities have forgotten this. Despite slogans like Swachh Bharat, our streets remain filthy. If our problems are not addressed, what is the point of having a municipal corporation?”

Retired inspector and BNHS advisor Murtuza Saab, who helped lead the month-long preparations for the convention, said that over one lakh signatures have already been collected in support of the demands.

“This has already forced the municipal body to carry out some minor works. This is the power of people’s movements,” he noted, urging citizens to intensify their participation in future protests.

Presiding over the meeting, BNHS district coordinator R. Somashekhar Gowda said that the municipal corporation is creating new civic problems instead of solving the existing ones.

“Residents must form local citizen committees and fight back. Struggle is the only way forward,” he said.

BNHS advisor and industrialist Shyamsundar, executive committee members N. Pramod and A. Shanta addressed the gathering.

Information on the problems affecting various neighbourhoods and possible solutions was shared. A new 47-member action committee was formed to spearhead future efforts. The committee plans to submit a memorandum to the Mayor on Wednesday.

The convention witnessed participation from numerous resident welfare associations and citizens across Ballari.