Speed up work, demand councillors

Speed up work, demand councillors
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Mahanagara Palike (BMP) commissioner K Jairaj’s measures to bring discipline to the system of execution of civic works left councillors an aggrieved lot at Thursday’s meeting of the BMP.

Councillors, including Opposition Leader B R Nanjundappa, JD(S) member Padmanabha Reddy, Congress councillors Jayaram and M Nagaraj demanded an explanation from the chair on the BMP’s decision to reallocate the current year’s grants for works pending from previous years.

They also demanded that the BMP take up works that were given work codes, meaning, work that the BMP was committed to take up.

While Jairaj explained the financial difficulties the civic body was facing due to spillovers and pending bills, Padmanabha Reddy said civic works must be taken up as demanded by the council and it was left to the administration to make funds available.

"The BMP could borrow or seek higher grants from the government. That is not the issue. The works must go on," he said. Jairaj tried to pacify the councillors by offering to go half way and said works, which were given codes but were not started amounting to Rs 180 crore also would be taken up along with the spillovers.

"The practice of giving work codes without financial approval is not sound. While the incomplete spillover works would be given preference, coded works too would be taken up. I have directed the zonal engineers to complete the works by September. I request the council to understand the financial limitations of the civic body," he said.

Earlier in the day, the councillors congratulated the BMP for taking firm action to evict encroachers in Kannalli area. Mayor Mumtaz Begum said the BMP land in Peenya would be fenced and protected by providing security.