Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah seeks coordination between government agencies
BENGALURU: Only on his third city tour, the Chief Minister seems to have finally woken up to the need to bring all the government agencies under one umbrella. Addressing reporters after an inspection in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Malleswaram and Bytarayanapura constituencies on Saturday, Siddaramaiah announced that a committee comprising BDA, BBMP, BWSSB, BESCOM and other agencies would be set up for better co-ordination.
“There is no co-ordination between these agencies. When an agency lays road; another digs it. There is a need to facilitate better co-ordination and I will write to the Chief Secretary to set up a committee comprising the representatives of BDA, BBMP, BWSSB and BESCOM. An order in this regard will be issued soon,” he said.
About development of lakes in Yelahanka, Mr Siddaramaiah said pending works of Yelahanka Lake will speed up, while a meeting will be convened with the Forest department to develop Puttenahalli Lake.
“The Yelahanka Lake spreads over 300 acres and the BBMP has spent over Rs 15 crore on its rejuvenation, including fencing of the lake. The radius of the lake is nearly 6.5 km. Encroachments on over seven acres have been removed and I have instructed the officials to speed up the remaining development works,” he said.
Further, he added that the BBMP had tried to rejuvenate Puttenahalli Lake in Yelahanka and had even prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for Rs 6 crore, but the Forest department, which has the lake under its jurisdiction, had refused to hand over the development works to BBMP.
“Many residents complained that stench emanates from the lake and have demanded that the lake be developed. Since Forest department officials did not allow the BBMP to take up the works, I will convene a meeting with officials of both the departments,” he said. Later, he said that though the first phase of works was complete, there were hiccups in completion of Haj Ghar in Hegde Nagar in Yelahanka.
“Works have taken place at the cost of Rs 40 crore under first phase, but there is a delay in the second phase due to some technical problems. I have instructed the contractor to speed up the remaining works, which will be taken up at the cost of Rs 30 crore,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that BBMP and Columbia Asia Hospital have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and a skywalk would be constructed by the hospital near Esteem Mall in Kempapura, where a girl was killed in a freak accident last year.
