BENGALURU: Responding to mounting criticism over Bengaluru’s pothole-ridden roads, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the issue stems from natural causes like heavy rains, not deliberate negligence. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, told reporters near his Sadashivanagar residence, “We are here to sort out the problem. Potholes are caused by nature; no one wants to create them.” He added that over 7,000 potholes have already been filled, with around 5,000 remaining. Emphasising the government’s commitment, he said a system has been set up for citizens to report potholes directly, and a report has been sought from the city police commissioner to aid in addressing the issue. Taking aim at the opposition, Shivakumar accused BJP legislators of politicising the matter while failing to utilise the ₹25 crore allocated to each of their constituencies. “Even from my allocations, funds have gone to BJP-held areas without discrimination. Why haven’t they ensured potholes are filled?” he asked. He added that while the BJP and JDS were engaging in political attacks, the Congress-led government remained focused on resolving Bengaluru’s road issues for the benefit of the public.
