Whitefield among the “best neighbourhoods” ?

With more and more high rises coming up, borewells running dry and no Cauvery water, what will Whitefield be?

Whitefield has no water.  Yet if all the hype surrounding it is to be believed, it is still considered one of the "best neighbourhoods" in which to live and work!

The "original" Whitefield – Forum Value Mall to Hope Farm – has always depended on borewell water supply (hence, a Borewell Road.)  However, with most of the existing borewells drying up, the remaining few have to supply water to the entire population of Whitefield.

The government has clearly stated that no new private borewells should be drilled.  But drilling continues clandestinely – and sometimes openly! Cauvery Water IV Stage seems to be a “pipe” dream (literally), with no signs of being implemented in the near future.  In such a hopeless scenario, Whitefield seems to be doomed.

Yet more and more high rises are coming up here, with sanctions being doled out generously by BBMP for multi storeyed structures. One example is the sanction given for a 100 unit apartment complex at the end of 1st Cross, off Main Road, adjacent to Food World. To gain access to this agricultural plot, the boundary wall at the end of a small private layout has been forcibly broken down and the narrow 16 ft 2 in. tarmac, (19ft 6in drain to drain) road within this private layout, has been grandiosely declared a 30 ft. road by the BBMP!

One is welcome to view the original documents pertaining to this private layout, and physically measure the width of the road to check how rules have been violated and measurements fudged.

While all this may only prove the level of corruption and manipulation, the main concern is from where will water be supplied to these 100 apartments? Numerous other multi unit projects are being sanctioned.  From where will the water come? 

⊕

Comments:

  1. Manzoor Ahmed says:

    Dear Deepa Peck,
    Me too a resident of WF, I like to know the status of the kaveri4 stage,if you could share with me I will be thankful to you sister.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Explainer: How citizens can report potholes and shoddy roads in Chennai

At a recent webinar, experts broke down Chennai's complaint redressal system, showing citizens how to hold authorities accountable and demand safer streets.

From a car plunging into a sinkhole on Old Mahabalipuram Road to a woman who recently died of electrocution in an open pit in Anna Nagar — Chennai faces perennial infrastructure issues that endanger public safety. Between 2017 and 2021, Tamil Nadu has witnessed 2,499 pothole-related accidents, leading to the death of 532 people. The state ranks third in the country for the number of registered vehicles, according to 2026 data. As more vehicles hit the road, shoddy roads can become death traps for motorists. Every year, the Greater Chennai Corporation works towards monsoon preparedness, but potholes invariably reappear. Residents…

Similar Story

Beyond ghost stations and unsafe infrastructure, how can we reclaim Chennai’s MRTS?

From reading circles to art hubs, urban planners and activists share creative ways to revamp MRTS stations into safe, active public spaces.

For B Kanchana, who frequents Chennai Beach Station on the Rapid Transit System (MRTS), train travel in the morning is comfortable and safe. But the platform itself is in dire need of renovation, lacks signboards or announcements and makes her feel vulnerable, says the administrative professional. Like Kanchana, residents and daily commuters point out the severe neglect across MRTS stations. Safety concerns peaked after the recent death of 55-year-old V Vijaya, whose body was found in a disused room at Thirumayilai MRTS station in October, a stark reminder of the hazards lurking in these public spaces. In Part 1 of…