Shankarlinge Gowda has tough task at BDA

Shankarlinge Gowda has tough task at BDA
The Hindu

New Commissioner has to complete several key projects first

# Controversy over inadequate infrastructure in the city
# Airport flyover, Arkavathi Layout work has to be completed on priority
# New officer has to fight the land mafia


BANGALORE: The new Commissioner of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), M.K. Shankarlinge Gowda, takes charge at a time when the expectations of the people from the BDA have taken a new dimension.

In the light of the deteriorating infrastructure, the task of the BDA is no longer limited to forming new residential layouts and distributing sites. It now handles infrastructure development in the city.

Mr. Shankaralinge Gowda takes charge from M.N. Vidyashankar during whose tenure transparency was introduced in the functioning of the authority.

The new commissioner, who was the Secretary to the then Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, has a tough assignment on hand as Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy would be personally reviewing his work.

Priorities

Mr. Shankaralinge Gowda has his task cut out — to complete several major ongoing works particularly the Jayadeva Hospital and the Airport Road flyovers, which had been pending completion for a long time.

The formation of the Arkavathi layout still hangs in balance.

Mr. Vidyashankar, who took charge in July 2004 soon after the Dharam Singh Government took charge, faced a tough challenge since the then new Government had summarily removed his predecessor Jayakar Jerome.

Mr. Jerome went on leave for two months and was asked to report to duty and was transferred within a day as Secretary, Department of Minorities.

However, Mr. Vidyashankar has got a slight better deal; he has been appointed Secretary, Department of Medical Education. The Chief Minister has made it clear that he would like to see that the urban poor had the privilege of a proper shelter.

He wants the various housing agencies to more economy sites in the new layouts.

With lands around Bangalore in the grip of " developers and land grabbers", the new BDA Commissioner faces a tough challenge.