Date:08/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/08/stories/2003020807380300.htm

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Chickpet traders observe bandh

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Feb. 7. Traders in Chickpet, led by the local MLA, P.C. Mohan, staged a demonstration in front of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) headquarters on Friday in protest against the tardy progress of projects taken up by the BMP, the BWSSB, and other civic bodies.

Hundreds of traders of SJP Road, Sadar Patrappa Road, Gundopanth Street, Balepet, and OTC Road closed their establishments as part of the protest. Addressing presspersons, Mr. Mohan said the lack of progress in the implementation of development work was affecting traders. ``For instance, the BWSSB has been installing pipelines for the past three months, and not even 50 per cent (of the work) has been completed,'' he added.

Roads in old areas such as Netajinagar and Ashwathnagar have not been asphalted in the past decade. Roadside drains and underground drains overflowed even if there were light rains, he added.

The traders, who raised slogans against the BMP, submitted a memorandum to the BMP Commissioner, M.R. Sreenivas Murthy. They withdrew the agitation after Mr. Murthy assured them that projects would be completed before the monsoon.

Later, the Mayor issued a statement condemning the protest.