Governor asks ‘Apathetic’ BCC, BDA To React During Rain

Bolt from blue: Governor thunders
Asks ‘Apathetic’ BCC, BDA To React During Rain
The Times of India

Bangalore: It was a cloudless sky. Suddenly there was thunder. From an unexpected quarter: Governor T.N. Chaturvedi raised a storm against the Bangalore City Corporation and the Bangalore Development Authority on Sunday over “apathy’’ during the recent rains.

The occasion was the inauguration of the World Environment Day function here. And the thunderbolts were many. “Our honourable corporators are supposed to know that administration is beyond daily routine. Government agencies must have their antennas alert, sensitive and responsive towards citizens,’’ the Governor said.

“It is the job of the BCC and the BDA to be prepared in advance. Why can’t we prepare ourselves based on previous years’ experience? Why can’t there be co-ordination among the agencies? Why can’t they think in a holistic manner and apply co-ordinated efforts,” he asked.

The hailstorm continued. “Agencies like BCC and BDA that are given resources must realise that administration does not merely mean daily paper work. It also means that they must be geared for an unexpected and sudden downpour of any kind.’’

Referring to the city rounds that chief minister N. Dharam Singh undertook after the black Monday (May 23) downpour, the Governor stated, “It is the job of the mayor and our honourable corporators and other officials of the administration to find solutions. Why does the buck stop at the chief minister and at other ministers? It is not a question of we or they and passing on the blame and responsibility.’’

Expressing “displeasure’’ at a government official’s statement that power cuts were resorted to even in cities like New York, Chaturvedi had a word of advice: “That cannot be an excuse for our work. We must do our job. The state government, the central government or other authorities must do their work adequately. They must not question or blame each other, instead they should jointly try and solve problems. If there is some fault, for which a constructive reason is given, it must be corrected.’