BMP Does U-Turn; Ban On Hoardings Kept In Abeyance

Pay-’n’-park put on hold
BMP Does U-Turn; Ban On Hoardings Kept In Abeyance
The Times of India

Bangalore: Doing an absolute Uturn on decisions announced in the budget, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike at the final budget session on Monday put two important issues — pay and park and ban on hoardings — on hold.
A committee has been formed to look into the logistics of re-introducing the pay-and-park scheme, how much money to collect and the places at which the scheme can be re-introduced. The committee would also look into “feasibility’’ of banning hoardings across the city.

After declaring that Bangalore would be made a hoarding-free city, the BMP council passed a resolution that a committee, comprising deputy mayor and party leaders, would submit a report in 20 days on how banning hoardings would affect revenue collection. Amidst a walkout by the BJP, JD(S) and JD(U) members, a slew of resolutions affecting the city were passed. Another resolution on having a ‘Palika Bazaar’ kind of commercial complex at the proposed Freedom Park was approved.

SAS to continue: The BMP passed a resolution that SAS would continue, with a rider that there is a 20 per cent increase in the annual rental value for commercial structures. More funds: Though the budget was approved (albeit only by the ruling party, Congress and corporators) without any additions or deletions in the final outlay, there were

reallocations causing heartburn to some and joy to some others. Quite unabashedly, the BMP removed a clause, which talked of equal allocation of funds to all wards, and invested MLAs with the onus of distributing funds under his/her discretion. MLA grants, which stood at Rs 30 crore a week ago, has now been doubled to Rs 60 crore. The MLA can distribute this to wards they wish. JD(S) members in the BMP staged a walkout on this issue. Points to ponder

Commissioner Jothiramalingam tried appealing to people’s sense of justice with this illustration: When a student succumbed to a tree branch at Maharani’s College, he said that though it was not the BMP’s fault, a compensation of Rs 1 lakh was given. The incident got wide media publicity, he said. Incidentally on the same day, a BMP gang-man fell to his death from a height of 15 feet at a railway crossing while trying to pull out a hoarding. The incident got scarce mention, said Jothiramalingam. “I’m only saying, life is precious.’’