Why is BMP protesting its own decision?

Why is BMP protesting its own decision?
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The decision of the Dharam Singh government to spruce up IT/BT corridors, taken in response to the IT industry’s boycott of IT in 2005, is now being opposed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), ruled by the same party.

While Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy is asking officials to speed up delayed works, BMP is working hard to halt the works, citing lack of co-ordination between officials and the elected body.

And when a member of the empowered committee on infrastructure R K Mishra said that the mayor and her deputies were obstructing work because they did not get their ‘share’, the common citizen couldn’t agree more. The history of the issue is worth a relook.

The decision: The decision to give Bangalore some world class roads was taken on September 15 and the BMP prepared estimates and placed them before the works committee in October.

After examining the proposal, the BMP council approved the works to be assigned to Karnataka Land Army Corporation (KLAC) the same month. No member opposed it. In November Mumtaz Begum became the mayor.

Engineers’ politics: When the works were approved, the BMP did not have a fullfledged engineer-in-chief (EIC) as re-appointment of retired EIC Ramegowda had been challenged in the High Court.

Additional commissioner (Finance) P K Sreehari was in-charge EIC and chief engineer (projects) was given charge of IT/BT roads.

Similarly World Bank-assisted road works were assigned to a separate project director. Both these officials report directly to the commissioner and not to the EIC.

In December, the High Court quashed the writ petition challenging Ramegowda’s re-appointment and when he came back, he was assigned only zonal works.

Meanwhile, another PIL was admitted in the High Court seeking a writ of quo warranto against Ramegowda, citing a government decision banning reappointment of retired officials.

BMP politicians who were silent so far about IT/BT roads, now want the same funds to be transferred to zonal works that come under Ramegowda’s jurisdiction. KLAC may do the civic works but at least asphalting works should be taken up under zonal ward works, said leader of the ruling party at BMP H Ravindra. Further, the court decision on PIL seeking a writ of quo warranto is yet to be pronounced.

Commissioner’s version: Asked about the accountability of the retired officials holding executive positions, BMP commissioner K Jothiramalingam said that they would not be accountable under the Karnataka Civil Service Rules (KSCR) but criminal proceedings could be initiated on any act of corruption till four years after retirement.

He refused to comment on Ramegowda’s reappointment despite the government decision against it, saying it was subjudice. There is more to the IT/BT road controversy than meets the eye.