Stern action against erring contractors
Meeting to be called to discuss solid waste clearance system
Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has admitted that there was a garbage contractors’ mafia operating in Bangalore and his Government was ready to hold any inquiry and penalise the culprits.
Replying to a question by Roshan Baig (Congress) in the Assembly on Tuesday, the CM said, the contracts to clear solid waste in the City were given under 32 packages for three years way back in 2007.
Once the BBMP commissioner found that the contractors were not clearing the garbage and there were irregularities, the CID was asked to probe into it in August this year. Of the Rs 8.47 crore paid to the contractors, Rs 7.88 crore had been recovered.
Irregularities found
The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force too had found irregularities in the execution of work by the contractors.
He further said, the High Court had stayed the probe by the CID on November 17 and December 2. The Government would take action including blacklisting the contractors for the shoddy job they have been doing, once the CID submits its report. The CM said he would convene a meeting of the MLAs and ministers of the City, to discuss the system to be adopted to clear solid waste in future. Steps should be taken to ensure that the dump yards were properly utilised, he added.
Earlier, Baig said that as per the inquiry by the task force of the BBMP, only 30 per cent of the garbage was cleared by the contractors. “Why no action has been taken against the 30 contractors so far? Announce the names of the contractors. The irregularities should be referred to the CBI”, he demanded of the Government.
Tree park proposed
The State government has plans to develop tree park in the forest land available in Sarvajna Nagar, announced Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.
Replying to a question by K J George, Congress MLA from Sarvajna Nagar, the CM said the Government would not allow encroachment of forest land or tanks. A spot inspection would be conducted and later, required steps would be taken to protect the forest land.
He also said in Sarvajna Nagar, there is no forest land in the first stage of HBR Layout and Lingarajpuram. But three lakes - Lingarajpura (5.48 ha), Byataguttepalya (1.98 ha) and Channasandra (7.48 ha) - were in the limits of Sarvajna Nagar. Earlier, George said, no tanks existed in the area. He also suggested the Government to install a statue of poet Sarvajna in the area.
