Mayor calls for system to ensure protection of BBMP properties

Mayor G Padmavathi on Thursday stressed on the need for a system to keep tabs on BBMP’s properties. She made the suggestion after councillors complained about officials not maintaining the Palike’s properties.

BBMP Tax and Finance Standing Committee chairman M K Gunashekar said there were no details of the properties’ lease period, terms of lease and their status. Opposition party leader in the BBMP council, Padmanabha Reddy pointed out that the Palike had lost its property near Vittal Mallya Road due to its negligence.

The mayor directed Special Commissioner for Estate S G Raveendra to prepare a report with details on properties in the 198 wards, their status, lease terms and related information, within one month.

Women councillors’ grouse

Women councillors rued that engineers and assistant engineers in their wards do not respond to them properly and behave irresponsibly. Shashirekha from Sarvagnanagar (ward 79) complained to the mayor that assistant engineer Ravindra Babu behaves rudely with her and does not cooperate with her on ward issues.

Mantri property on SWD

Govindarajanagar councillor Umesh Shetty said the Mantri Blossom apartment on Lalbagh Road had violated all building bye-laws. He also said the builder had encroached on a stormwater drain.

He added that Palike officials have sanctioned building plans blatantly and demanded an inquiry. The mayor, who had earlier visited the spot, said action would be taken within two weeks and the report was being readied.

Uniforms to be distributed

BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad advised Palike officers to invite tenders for school materials immediately so that the tender process is completed by March and uniforms can be distributed by the time schools reopen.

Welfare schemes misused

M K Gunashekar pointed out that from 2012 till 2015, 1,131 houses were sanctioned for the poor at Bommanahalli and Mahadevapura zones under various welfare schemes. Out these, only 117 houses were completed, Gunashekar said, referring to Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports.

Garbage cess

The proposed  garbage cess of 15% of the property tax that was to be discussed at the BBMP council meeting on Thursday was given a miss.  BBMP Tax and Finance Standing Committee Chairman M K Gunashekar told DH that he was given directions by higher officers to take a call on the issue and then discuss it at the council for approval.

“A press meet has been called by our committee on Friday at the BBMP head office. After this, we will decide on the next move in the council,” he said.