Residents raise alarm over neglected PHC and PWD quarters in Jeevan Bima Nagar

A Primary Health Centre (PHC) and PWD quarters in Jeevan Bima Nagar, East Bengaluru, has become a cause for concern among local residents, who claim that the deteriorating condition of the buildings and its surroundings poses both health and safety hazards.

Many of the PWD quarters, constructed in 1976, are now unoccupied, according to PWD officials. What was once a residential structure is now reduced to ruins, with the site being used as a dumping ground, according to residents. Broken furniture, bags of cement, and abandoned vehicles clutter the premises.

“This auto has been parked here for over a year, punctured and forgotten. It’s frustrating to see this mess right outside our house,” said John Peter, a resident of Jeevan Bima Nagar.

Residents further allege that the building now attracts unethical activities and has turned into a garbage hotspot.

Speaking to The Hindu, Nagaraju L., Assistant Executive Engineer, Karnataka Public Works Department(PWD), confirmed that the building is slated for demolition, but that the proposal is yet to receive government clearance.

“We are trying to fence it off as residents have raised concerns. I have received complaints about garbage dumping here and have requested for it to be cleaned, but no action has been taken yet,” Mr. Nagaraju said.

Doctor rarely present 

The adjacent PHC is also under scrutiny. Residents say the doctor in charge is rarely present and that they are often denied basic medical attention. “There is only one doctor, and he’s almost never here. They just ask for our symptoms and give us tablets. No real treatment is done,” said Mary Shushila, another resident.

The PHC shares a boundary with the dilapidated PWD quarters, raising serious concerns over hygiene. Overflowing garbage, stagnant water, and foul odour have led to fears of contamination and infection among patients and locals alike. “We have filed several complaints with the BBMP for over a year now, but nothing has changed,” said Xavier Vijaykumar, another resident.

According to locals, BBMP sanitation workers collect garbage from nearby areas only to dump it in front of the deserted PWD quarters. “Many of us fall sick at least once a week due to this situation,” said Mr. Vijaykumar.

Frustrated by the state of the PHC, residents say they now travel to Domlur for medical care.

However, when The Hindu contacted Suralkar Vikas Kishore, Special Commissioner (Health) and Zonal Commissioner (West), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), he said that he had not received any formal complaints, contradicting repeated claims by residents.