As torrential rains and civic chaos continue to torment residents of East Bengaluru, public outrage has reached a breaking point. Citizens, once proud of living in India’s tech capital, are now condemning the Siddaramaiah-led state government for what they call “criminal negligence” and “unscientific planning” that has turned daily life into a nightmare.
On October 13, members of the Individual Tax Payers’ Forum (ITPF) representing Varthur, Panathur, Balagere, and other flood-hit localities wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, demanding an immediate halt to property tax collection until the state restores basic civic infrastructure. The residents’ letter paints a grim picture of a city sinking under its own developmental chaos.
They alleged that Bengaluru’s civic agencies have undertaken uncoordinated, substandard road and drainage works that have worsened flooding instead of preventing it. Newly laid roads under the “white-topping” project have become waterlogged due to a flawed gradient design. At the same time, several stormwater drain connections have been incorrectly linked to sewage lines, resulting in filthy backflows into homes during heavy rains.
“Despite the Chief Minister’s visit to flood-affected Varthur on September 27, no meaningful action has been taken,” the letter stated. “Officials only carry out patchwork repairs, leaving residents to face repeated flooding and traffic paralysis.”
The ITPF further cited massive flooding on October 10 and 11 as evidence of continued neglect. “Citizens are not refusing to pay tax,” they wrote, “but we expect basic services in return. Bengaluru is globally known as India’s IT hub, but civic negligence has tarnished Brand Bengaluru. Give us infrastructure first — then collect taxes.”
The residents have also demanded a scientific audit of all ongoing works, accountability for engineers and contractors, completion of the entire stormwater drain network before continuing white-topping, and removal of encroachments that block natural drainage channels.
While citizens endure damaged roads, traffic gridlocks, and sleepless nights due to flooding, government officials continue to defend their actions. A senior civic engineer overseeing Varthur and Panathur works claimed that all construction was being done “in compliance with the Road Works Manual and approved drawings.” The official blamed “historical encroachments” along drains for the delays and argued that public interference with barricaded areas was hindering progress.
But this defence has failed to placate residents, business leaders, and the city’s tech community. The pothole problem has become a national embarrassment — even drawing comments from prominent entrepreneurs.
Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw tweeted about how even foreign investors were discussing Bengaluru’s deteriorating roads and garbage crisis. She revealed that a Chinese businessman had remarked about the city’s poor infrastructure, expressing disbelief that the so-called “Silicon Valley of India” looked more like a neglected town.
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In Bengaluru we are struggling with potholed bad https://t.co/hEp95aoLsV Andhra they are building a 130,000 cr data centre with Google. @DKShivakumar https://t.co/y56faRjFGw— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) October 14, 2025
Following her remarks, business leader T.V. Mohandas Pai lashed out at the government, highlighting how neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is investing Rs 1.3 lakh crore to establish a Google data centre, while Karnataka’s capital is still “struggling to fill potholes.” “Our roads are unsafe, our drainage is dysfunctional, and our governance is paralysed,” Pai posted on social media, in a scathing critique of the administration.
@DKShivakumar Pot hole engineering in Bengaluru. Pathetic. Big shame. Is this road repair? Very primitive @BBMPCOMM @BBMPofficial pic.twitter.com/dt1Ashttsn
— Mohandas Pai (@TVMohandasPai) June 11, 2025
The government’s response has been dismissive. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru development, tweeted that Rs 1,100 crore had been sanctioned for road works and that “5,000 potholes have been filled, while another 5,000 remain.” Citizens, however, say the numbers on paper do not match the reality on the ground.
Now, the discontent has turned into defiance. Residents of the IT-BT belt have written directly to the Chief Minister and DCM, declaring that they will no longer pay property tax until the government fulfils its duty to provide functional roads, drainage, and safety.
“Stop taxing our misery,” the ITPF’s statement reads bluntly. “We contribute to the economy, we pay our dues yet our homes are flooded, our children cannot reach schools, and our roads are death traps. We will not pay for the government’s incompetence.”
