Lack of info annoys citizens

Lack of info annoys citizens
Deccan Herald

Even as the NURM debate heats up, the common man is asking for more. More public meetings to decide on the development path for their City. Some residents are annoyed with the government for not publicising the meetings.

The NURM meetings happen without any prior notice to the people. A public meeting was to be held on May 13, which was advanced to May 6. How do you expect people to attend it? What is the publicity being given to this project involving a huge amount of funds? The common man seems to have missed an opportunity to voice his concerns. In fact, the residents of Ward 89 have kept our presentation files ready. We lack basic infrastructure, because the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) ‘developed’ the area and handed it over to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP). Sadly, the locality has no civic amenities. There is no playground, park, community hall or shopping complex.

We demand that a NURM meeting be held in our area again, to help us constitute a ward sabha and plan the development in our locality.

C S Vincent, Secretary — Rotary Community Corps, Aravinda Nagar

Strangely, we were not invited to any NURM meeting, despite the fact that our CMC is the most neglected. Now, the question is, who will decide on the development plans for us? We trust no politician, bureaucrat or the government. Will the common man have a say?

We have seen enough funds of both State and the Centre being misused and wasted by project implementing authorities.

This time, we don’t want to take a chance. Let reputed social organisations be roped in to implement the project and funds be released stage-wise, to scrutinise the quality and quantum of work. The social organisations have proved their efficiency and sincerity by achieving their targets in massive projects like polio eradication, family planning and cataract operations. Let them now chip in for infrastructure development.

The City lacks vision and the population growth is exceeding the pace of infrastructure development. Unless we channelise our resources and set targets, we cannot succeed.

Creating satellite towns is a good initiative which had to be implemented a decade ago. However, the four main priorities for every ward should be water, roads, transport and electricity.

Can the government ensure these, once the NURM funds are allotted?

K Susairaj, Resident, KR Puram