Road repair: BMP nod to HC panel’s suggestions

Road repair: BMP nod to HC panel’s suggestions
Deccan Herald

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on Wednesday accepted most of the recommendations made by an expert committee, appointed by the Karnataka High Court to check quality of road laying and repair work in the City.

The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on Wednesday accepted most of the recommendations made by an expert committee, appointed by the Karnataka High Court to check quality of road laying and repair work in the City.

In an affidavit filed in the High Court, BMP Commissioner K Jothiramalingam said the committee’s recommendations would be implemented in phases. The High Court had on January 19 directed the BMP to explain why the recommendations of the committee in its two bi-monthly reports should not be accepted and why the BMP should not be directed to implement them.

The committee, comprising retired engineers Captain S Raja Rao, Mr B L Balakrishna and Jayaprasad, had been constituted on September 12, 2005, while dealing with a PIL by former MLA K N Subba Reddy. The first two bi-monthly reports were submitted in December 2005 and January 2006.

The BMP said it had examined the recommendations and most of them were acceptable. It, however, said one of the recommendations that the BMP should make one department responsible and accountable for the failures (regarding road laying, repair and maintenance) need not be considered as the present system was adequate.

To initiate action

On the recommendation that the BMP should initiate action against the defaulters (contractors, officials and supervisors), it said this would be examined and action taken on a case-to-case basis.

Regarding recommendation to take action against errant engineers, who are on deputation from the Public Works Department, the BMP said it has already written to the Government to initiate disciplinary action against such engineers.

Maintenance free

It said repair work on certain roads had been taken up on priority. The work on these roads would be of international standards. Such roads, it said, when completed need not be “touched” for the next five to 10 years.

Regarding to suggestions by the committee to improve the drains, the BMP said a scheme has already been drawn up to desilt shoulder and tertiary drains. It said there is a plan to desilt the drains before the monsoon sets in.

The Commissioner said in the affidavit that the road works, to be taken up, were being identified by the ward engineers on a scientific and technical basis. The road works suggested by the residents’ associations would be considered for inclusion.