Bengaluru: Mayor Manjunath Reddy on Monday instructed BBMP Commissioner G. Kumar Naik to blacklist contractors who are not maintaining roads under the guarantee period. Addressing the newly-elected corporators and BBMP officials during the first BBMP Council meeting, Mr Reddy stressed that it is the responsibility of the contractors to fill potholes on newly asphalted roads.
“Contractors will have to maintain roads for two years as per the guarantee period agreement. If some contractors are trying to escape, blacklist them,” he suggested. He said that contractors are using filter sand for various infrastructure works and such projects are prone to collapsing.
“We need more quality control units in the city, at least two or three. We are outsourcing quality checking and paying exorbitant amounts. If we have our own units, issues like pothole crisis can end,” he said.
Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy wanted to know why the city was filled with potholes, though the Palike has spent Rs 18 crore. “The BBMP spent Rs 3 crore to acquire Python machine and disbursed nearly Rs 10 crore to wards. But the roads are still in bad condition. What are the officials doing,” he asked.
Many corporators, including Maruti Mandir corporator Shanthakumari, asked the mayor to de-freeze accounts as basic infrastructure works have stalled due to lack of funds. Basavanagudi corporator Katte Satyanarayana said that the officials refused to fill potholes in his ward, saying there were no funds.
Garbage segregation
Mayor Reddy asked all corporators to ensure that garbage is segregated in their wards. “My first challenge was Bingipura crisis. I saw the plight of people living near these yards and you all should see it too. They are living in a pitiable condition. Join hands with NGOs and take their help to create awareness about segregation,” he said. Several corporators and Mr Reddy said that plastic, especially plastic handbags, should be banned to end garbage crisis.
E-toilets
Mr Reddy appreciated the E-toilet project, a novel initiative implemented during former Mayor Katte Satyanarayana’s term. He said that the toilets provide relief to thousands of citizens, but are not being used optimally as the BBMP is yet to clear bills in some areas.
The BBMP official concerned said, “A proposal to set up 75 toilets at a cost of Rs 4.24 crore has been approved. The toilets will be built by Eram Scientific Solutions and each toilet costs about Rs 5.66 lakh and needs 4.54 square meter space. Now, 29 toilets are operational, final works are going on at 21 units, 15 toilets are almost completed and 10 are yet to come up. We are trying to acquire space in busy areas.”
Long queues at crematoriums
Prakash Nagar ward corporator Padmavathi complained that the electric burner was not working at the Harishchandra Ghat crematorium for the last one year. Relatives of the dead have to wait for hours in long queues to use the facility. “Why are officials taking long to repair the machine? People from at least eight different constituencies use the crematorium. Why is it being ignored? Also, bones and ashes of the dead are floating in the storm water drain next to the crematorium,” she said. The chief engineer (West) replied, “The machine has worn out and we have prepared an estimate of Rs 1.5 crore to acquire a new machine. We will soon call for tenders.”
Tug-of-war
The first council meet seemed to begin on a bitter note when all the 101 BJP corporators protested outside the council building before the meeting. Kacharakanahalli corporator Padmanabha Reddy said, “We are 101 corporators whereas there are only 76 Congress corporators. I don’t know who’s in majority in the council. Earlier, even CM had agreed to bow to the Bengalureans’ choice of electing the BJP. Later, you (Congress) went to resort and went against the people’s verdict.” Mr Reddy said, “We should have been sitting in your place (Opposition) but due to your party’s disinterest, you are sitting in that place!”
