Ballari, Karnataka: It seems mining, or even illegal mining, is no longer an election issue in Karnataka’s Ballari district, the stronghold of the scam-tainted Reddy brothers.
Today, the town looks parched and its people thirsty.
Since their rise in 2008, the mining baron Reddys have promised to convert Ballari into one of the most progressive and developed cities in the country, but nothing much has changed on the ground so far.
Locals said the candidates who have been given tickets by the Congress, BJP and the JD(S) this time, all belong to the mining lobby.
Voters seek answers from candidates During a recent election campaign, sitting Congress MLA Anil Lad was cornered by a group of women who asked him why he had come asking for votes as he never bothered to visit them in the past five year.
The legislator admits, “It is true that water is a huge problem here.” He says he has tried his best to provide basic facilities such as drinking water, roads and ensuring law and order in Ballari city during his term.
The scene was different when the Reddy brothers were here,” he claimed.
All I can promise is that I will do my best to give drinking water at least twice a week,” he added.
Acute shortage of water The shortage of drinking water is so acute that the city, which needs close to to 0.5 TMC per month, receives only half the amount.
Many Reddy supporters, however, still believe that the family will return to power and bring in the best technology for water management.