WORKING AREAS

I. Over all picture of Desianagar on Water and Sanitation Status (East 3 division):

CIVIC conducted a baseline survey in both the slums, which drew a clear picture of these slums and the challenges people are living with in these slums.

Scenario when CIVIC started working in the area:
• Number of houses in the slum now (2009): 112 (116)
• Total population: 673 (male: 345, females: 328)
• 1 Public tap- water supply will be for 3 days per week with 5 hours per day.
• 1 Bore well with hand pump
• 8 Public toilets

No families have direct water connection in the slum. There is one water tank on top through which three taps are provided. That is the only way people access to the water. The quantity of water supply is below the proposed quantity of water which is required for survival.

No family is provided with individual toilets and the community is provided with 8 community toilets which are connected to open drainage. Toilets are not connected with water taps. Around 70% of the families have told they defecate in the open grounds as the community toilets have problems such as no water facility, getting blocked again and again and no proper O&M.

As per community members either bathroom or toilets are not cover from all sides. Many of the women have told they take bath within the house with in small space. 41% of the families have told they have individuals bathing facilities but no information on size and cleanliness has been provided by the families. They have also told the men take bath on footpaths outside the houses. Though community bath rooms exist people are unhappy with the size of community bathrooms. Many of them have told they use toilets for bathing also.
In general discussion women say they have problem in using toilets and bathrooms.

Present scenario:

Under NURM-BSUP project transit arrangement has been done. Totally 32 houses are there in each block. On four houses one connection is given. Each house consists of 3 taps inside the house.

In Desianagar different committees are been formed to function various activities. In this maintenance committee on water, electricity and sanitation consists the committee members Mr. Gantlappa and Ms. Narayanamma from Telugu community, Mr. Nagu Rao and Mr. Sethu Rao from Marathi community.

They need to look after any issues mentioned above in the community.

II. Over all picture of Rajeevgandhi slum on Water and Sanitation Status (East 5 division):

CIVIC conducted a baseline survey in both the slums, which drew a clear picture of these slums and the challenges people are living with in these slums.

Scenario when CIVIC started working in the area:
Total numbers of houses are increased from 119 to other 30 houses. Only 24 houses are in Main road including shops and houses.
6 years back Total 119 houses gave application to KSCB and 95 houses received possession certificate and remaining houses are still in the process.
Totally 17 public taps are provided by BWSSB in Rajeevgandhi, in that 11 (Old) and 6 (new connections).
3 bore wells are existing in this ward. 2 are dried-up and 1 is recently digged and people are using water from this borewell.
Toilet facilities are not provided by BBMP. But 4 houses together themselves constructed 2 toilets. Here pit has not yet made but connections are given to the drainage.
Here is few photographs on drainage system in Rajeevgandhi slum.


Water issues in Rajeevgandhi:

1. Here people are complaining about contaminated water supply. After several oral complaints and a written complaint by Ambedkar sangha also BWSSB did not take any measure to rectify the problem. Now the water has been sent for test.

Though the water has been taken for test by BWSSB central water Testing Laboratory on 21.01.2010 but still the report has not been disclosed.and RTI is filed for the information.

2. Another problem here is that water pipelines are broken. The water pipeline is in the middle of drainage and pit connection. If the water pipeline breaks, drainage water gets mixed with the drinking water. May be the reason for contaminated water. So the first and second problems are interlinked. This problem is existing since last months (from June-July).

a.When the complaint was given by the CIVIC coordinator in Cauvery Bhavan immediately instructions were given to the Valve-man Mr. Shivu. And it was also brought to the notice of East sub-division-5.

After few days Mr. Shivu reported to the sub-division that the pipeline is been repaired. While in the reality nothing has been done. And there is no procedure found to cross check the repair work done in the maintenance dept.

b.CIVIC coordinator again visited East sub-division-5 and spoke about the problem with the AEE (Mr. D. Murali) and the AE(Mr. Ramesh). With very much surety they said that the problem has been rectified and now the community members are getting pure water as well as the pipelines are repaired. The coordinator have done some video clippings in the mobiles which was shown to them. As usual again a call was given to the Valve-man and he replied that the repair has been done.

c.After all these an Interaction meeting was held on 10.02.2010 in Rajeevgandhi Anganwadi center. AEE along with JE, one more official and with the valve-man ttended the program. Charter on BWSSB facilities to urban poor was presented by the coordinator. After the presentation community members started to share their water woes with the officials. Denying all the problems valve-man stood on his statement that the pipelines are repaired long back and the community members are lying.

Vedio footage on water issues

The coordinator intervened in between and showed the footage recorded. As a result immediately a spot visit was done by the AEE and officials, and gave instructions to repair the pipeline within three days and shift the pipeline.

Within three days the work was done, but again two more leakages remained. And the water quality was also comparatively better in the sense worms and other things which were entering in to the pipeline were stopped, still a slight complaint remained of getting some mud water in the beginning of water release.

d.On 2.03.2010 with a group of 6 women, a written complaint was given to AEE on water adalat day. In reply a promise was given to rectify the problem within two days infront of the community members. And the contact details of community members were collected by the AE.

But the effort was not of use.

e. A step ahead the co-ordinator went to East-Division to meet the Executive Engineer to discuss the issue. As the EE was on duty met AEE Mr. Vasudevachar and shared the problem on 19.03.2010. Immediately AEE Mr. D. Murali did a spot visit again with the co-ordinator, contractor and the valve-man and ultimately next day itself the problem got rectified.

Before rectification:

1. Broken pipelines(1)

2. Broken pipelines(2)

3. Leaking tap

4. Water flowing in to drainage

5. Wastage entering in to due to broken pipeline broken pipelines

After rectification:

1. No more leakages

2. Repaired pipeline

3. Repaired tape

Water test report of KR Puram slum got through RTI which says the bore-well water supplying to the slum is non-potable to drink. RTI has been applied regarding action taken on the report.