Lack of public awareness dogs JNNURM projects

Lack of public awareness dogs JNNURM projects
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) held public consultations on its ambitious projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) on Saturday and the programme held in 30 ARO ranges became forum for grievances.

The public consultations are critical to the mission as it is mandatory for funding by the centre. The realisation of stormwater drain remodeling and peripheral ring roads hinge on the consultation and these projects extend beyond BMP limits into City Municipal Corporation (CMC) areas.

Interestingly, not many elected representatives have information on project details.

While the BMP council passed resolutions on the subject, there was no debate and the civic body did not take up any mass awareness drive before holding the consultations.

As a result, each of the consultation venues had just 20-30 citizens participating to air their grievances on civic services. Deputy Mayor M Laxminarayana even entered into an argument with a resident in Chandra Layout.

While the civil society had been demanding greater debate on the projects, Basavanagudi MLA K Chandrashakhar said that the elected representatives must be informed first.

“The officials of the BMP, councillors and MLAs should be informed about the details of every project under the mission. There is need for an extensive awareness campaign on the projects. Only then can the civic body expect any constructive public debate,” he said.