BBMP holds meet over relaxed building rules near lakes

The BBMP’s monthly council meeting on Thursday discussed the state government’s decision to allow building work within 30 metres of the waterbody.

Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy raised the issue at the meeting. “This was approved just before the elections and the code of conduct was in place. It helps the real estate and mafia gangs,” he said.

Congress corporator and former mayor Manjunath Reddy said: “It was during BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar’s tenure that the NGT ruled that 75 metres should be allowed around the lake as a buffer zone and no building should come up inside the radius. Now, it’s your party (BJP) that is confusing people on the issue. Make it 30 metres as the uniform rule and we’ll agree.”

Corporators cutting across party lines urged BBMP Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao to look into the matter and come to a final conclusion.

“We have to seek legal opinion and then decide on how to go about this,” said Rao.

In May 2014, the National Green Tribunal had passed an order not to give an approval to construct or build a road, bridge or other buildings within 75 meters of lakes or stormwater drains (rajakaluves).

NGT order states...

According to the BDA masterplan 2015, the rajakaluves have been divided into three types: primary (50 m), secondary (35m) and tertiary (15m) as buffer zones. The meeting also discussed the missing auto tippers, which Mayor R Sampath Raj raised.

Sarfaraz Khan, joint commissioner, health and solid waste management, BBMP, said: “We have asked all the solid waste management contractors and BBMP officials to download the bin-tipper app. This will help in locating the autos through GPS. All these days, it has been noted that the autos were carrying just two to three tonnes of garbage, while each of them have a capacity to carry about eight tonnes.” He also said that farmers in Mahadevapura used some of the autos for private purposes.

Appoint chief engineer to fix potholes,blackspots

Mayor R Sampath Raj said the BBMP should appoint one chief engineer exclusively to solve the potholes and garbage issues. “There are a lot of chief engineers and there
is no proper work going on. If we allot one officer for these issues, it will be helpful to solve the problems plaguing the city,” Raj said. M K Gunashekar, Jayamahal ward corporator, said:
“Instead of this, you should take action against the contractors who are flawed within the defect-liability period.

If we do not appoint a chief engineer, then all the potholes and blackspots should be removed in 15 days,” he said.