Performance appraisal: BMP at receiving end

Performance appraisal: BMP at receiving end
Deccan Herald

Debt trap, spillover development works, poor tax collection, corruption, project delays...

Debt trap, spillover development works, poor tax collection, corruption, project delays...

Officials of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike were in the line of fire at the discussion on BMP’s annual performance for 2005-06, organised by the Public Record of Operations and Finance (PROOF) on Saturday.

BMP showed a slight improvement in property tax collection, and decrease in revenue receipts related to advertising taxes and rent from leased properties. It also suffered losses due to the discontinuation of the pay and park scheme. BMP’s expenditure related to infrastructure projects and storm water drains increased.

Mathew Thomas, Director, PROOF, said BMP was caught in a “debt trap”.This has been worsened by “poor planning and project delays that have led to cost escalation of over 200 per cent”. He called for integration of functions of various departments.

Capacity deficit

BMP Commissioner K Jairaj, said that BMP was a “capacity deficit organisation”. “The city has grown phenomenally, but BMP’s capacity, in terms of engineering, administration and management aspects remain the same.”

Jairaj said citizens too were not doing their bit. This was reflected in tax evasion, footpath encroachments, building violations and garbage dumping.

Jairaj added that BMP was proposing to simplify the process of obtaining Khata certificate by delivering it at one's doorstep within 30 days of applying.

BMP Special Commissioner Gaurav Gupta said that with the revision of advertisement bylaws and licence fees in BMP markets; reintroduction of pay and park scheme, regularisation of unauthorised constructions and implementation of GIS in all wards, BMP’s revenue can be enhanced.

Ramesh Ramanathan, PROOF Trustee and founder of Janaagraha said, that besides the Right to Information Act passed recently, there was a need for regular disclosure of performance of all departments. “The information should be made public periodically,” he added.