JN-NURM discussions turn out to be grievance meets

Discussions turn out to be grievance meets
Deccan Herald

What was meant to be a discussion on the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM), turned out to be yet another public grievance meeting in several centres on Saturday.

For residents, who rarely get to meet senior officials, the meet was a bonanza of sorts.

Not many seemed aware of the agenda, nor did they understand the impact Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission could have in the city’s future. Some complained that insufficient notice was given by the BMP regarding the NURM awareness meets.

Jayanagar

The meeting received a lukewarm response, with only 40 representatives from local resident associations participating in the event. Several assumed it to be a grievance meet.

“The drain outside my house is choked. The SWD in the area raises a stink. The roads are not good,” many rued. As the NURM issue waned, Jayanagar resident Venkat Subbanna, a former principal of Vijaya College, brought the focus back to the subject. “Through the NURM, a few powers will be transferred from the BMP to us.

The BMP should have micro-level discussions in every division, and every point of the NURM must be discussed. The citizens are yet to understand the value of this document,” he pointed out.

Members of the J P Nagar Ist Phase resident association asked for greater participation in the monitoring and the implementation of civic works, while another resident, Bhaskar, suggested a toll-free helpline in BMP and upgradation of BMP commercial complexes.

Mayo Hall

The 25 participating residents of Richmond Town, Langford Town and Shantinagar protested against the “half-hearted” approach of the BMP towards the public meetings.

“Why were we not consulted before the plans were charted? Their entire plan of action is moving backwards, from finish to start. The urban poor is the main thrust of the programme, but they have no representation today. No sufficient notice was given. What they are doing in these meets is sing their own song,” complained members of Residents Welfare Association of Richmond Town and Langford Town.

Wilson Garden

Several of the concerns of the 30-odd residents participating in the meet were limited to the ‘stinking’ SWD. A K Prasad, a resident, suggested that the BMP should effectively communicate details of the NURM programme, with the help of a dedicated website. Area Corporators Uday Shankar and Vasantha Ravichandra participated in the meet.

Sultanpalya

The meet began with murmurs of complaints. Most of the 35 residents who took part rued that the venue was in a far-off location. Jayamahal Citizens’ Forum president Vasudevan said that he had to travel almost 7 kms to reach the place.

He also demanded that the BMP should give at least three weeks’ time to reply to the mission after making a presentation. Most of the suggestions raised at the meeting were concerned to issues of drinking water and sanitation.

HMT layout

Over 70 residents attended the meeting. However, most “suggestions” were again reduced to grievances. BMP executive engineer Ramesh said out of 34 responses received in the meeting, many were regarding the drinking water problem.