Bengaluru: Ask newly elected Mayor, R Sampath Raj, who is also a BE holder about his priorities for Bengaluru and he says ensuring women’s safety, among other issues, is on the top of his agenda. And how does he intend to go about keeping women safe on the city’s roads? By installing CCTV cameras across the city, he replies. Excerpts from an interview:
Now that you are the Mayor, what are your plans for the city?
Making the city more safe for women is among my priorities. I plan to have the entire city monitored through CCTV cameras to curb crime against women. I plan to install CCTV cameras at main junctions across the city.
How do you intend to address the garbage problem haunting Bengaluru, especially with the garbage contractors and pourakarmikas going on snap strikes when they please?
For every problem there is a solution. If the garbage generated in the city is segregated properly at source, half our burden could reduce. We will revive the waste processing plants. As for the contractor and pourakaramika issue, I shall find a solution.
In a city filled with potholes, the recent rain has only worsened their condition. How do you plan to tackle this?
I am aware of the condition of roads in the city. The heavy rain has wreaked havoc. We will fill the potholes on a war footing and make Bengaluru pothole- free.
The BBMP is struggling to meet its expenses and is always depending on the state government for funds. How will you improve its revenue generation?
The Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance under the chairmanship of Mr Gunashekar has done an excellent job in digitising properties in the city and improving property tax collection. I shall continue its good work. Also, the BBMP is losing crores of rupees due to illegal hoardings. We will curb this and improve its advertising revenue.
