Report on road works: Oppn furious over BMP’s ‘laxity’

Report on road works: Oppn furious over BMP’s ‘laxity’
Deccan Herald

Commotion over delay in road works and the city administration’s perceived reluctance to take note of the adverse remarks on the quality of works made by a High Court-appointed experts’ committee ...

Commotion over delay in road works and the city administration’s perceived reluctance to take note of the adverse remarks on the quality of works made by a High Court-appointed experts’ committee marked the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike council proceedings on Thursday.

That the BMP’s official machinery has not bothered to get itself a copy of the experts’ report triggered the ire of the Opposition.

The Captain Raja Rao headed three-member committee report, which was presented to the High Court recently, has notable references to the poor quality of road works and a cartel of contractors.

Raising the matter, the ruling Congress party’s H Jayaram (RPC Layout) demanded that the report be presented for discussion in the Council; but the Congress was a divided house.

Mayor Mumtaz Begum herself noted “There is no relation between the committee and us. We haven’t received the report”. It only added further fuel to the Opposition’s ire.

“Why hasn’t BMP’s legal officers applied for a copy? Why hasn’t the Commissioner asked them to get one?” they demanded. JD(S) corporator Mr Kupparaju (Austin Town) noted that in choosing to ignore the report, the BMP engineers were only indicting themselves.

Upon the Opposition’s insistence, the mayor assured that a copy of the report will be procured and taken up for discussion in the council.

Asphalting

The mayor also assured that the work on the second package of total asphalting will begin latest by January 30. The tenders are scheduled to be opened on January 5; due to the urgency of the situation, the council may approve them directly, without going to the standing committee on works, she said. Earlier, the corporators questioned the delay in completion of the first package works under the total asphalting scheme. The work, which was started in April 2003, is yet to be completed, they observed.

Engineer-in-Chief Mr Ramegowda said they will be completed by February. The total length of the roads along which the Rs 130 crore first package works are slotted is 1000 km; work has been completed along 930 km, he said.

Mr Ramegowda informed the council that tender process for the second package was postponed seven times since July due to lack of response. The contractors have promised to quote the tenders on January 5, he said.

The break up of the second package is as follows: 34 packages at Rs 35.85 crore in East division, 20 packages at Rs 18.93 crore in West division, 24 packages at Rs 25.45 crore in South division.

FRAYED TEMPERS

Chamarajpet MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan (JD-S) let political tempers on the loose for a while at the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council on Thursday alleging that the BMP’s developmental works were concentrated around the assembly segments represented by the ruling Congress. Mr Khan went on to say that it was especially so in the constituencies represented by district-in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy (Jayanagar) and former mayor K Chandrashekar (Basavanagudi). Even as the Congress members were on their feet crying hoarse, Mr Khan smugly replied, “I shall apologise if what I have said is wrong.”