JOIN USThe proposed construction of a necklace road connecting Bengaluru International Airport Road with the Yelahanka Lake via Kendriya Vihar rocked the BBMP Council meeting, on Wednesday, when Opposition leaders questioned the need for such a road.
The Standing Committees of Taxation and Finance have approved the construction of the road, whose estimated cost is Rs 250 lakh.
JD(S) leader Padmanabha Reddy alleged that the Palike officials were favouring a private builder who is constructing a seven-star hotel at the location, thereby, the road would provide accessibility to the hotel.
Opposition leaders Udayshankar M and M K Gunashekar said that there were hardly any residential houses at the location where the proposed road is to be constructed. Thus, the construction of the road would only amount to a loss of Rs 10 crore to the Palike.
Overflowing Mavalli land fill was another issue that created furore at the Council meeting. Similarly, heaps of uncleared garbage at Mandur land fill is posing health hazards to residents in the surrounding areas, the members noted.
Manure from garbage
Ramky Energy and Environment Limited, which is at present making manure from solid waste is able to use only 300 metric tonne of garbage of the total 700 metric tonne dumped at both the land fills.
Also, there is a proposal by Ramky Ltd to establish a 10 mw power station on BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis using 1,000 metric tonne of solid waste.
B V Satish, Palike engineer, said it has been able to allocate only 46 acres of land of the 100 acres of land sought by Ramky Ltd to establish the power station.
Multi-level car parking
Congress corporator Muniratna Naidu questioned the Palike administration about the Detailed Project Report (DPR) to construct a multi-level car parking on the Freedom Park premises, at an estimated cost of Rs 80.12 crore.
He further questioned the need of spending such a huge amount on the construction of a car parking space that could accommodate only 400 cars and 20 buses.
Responding to Muniratna’s query, BBMP Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda said the project has been revised to Rs 56 crore.
Also, in order to address water problems in surrounding areas of Gandhinagar, the BWSSB has proposed to construct a ground-level reservoir, he added. On constructing 168 bus shelters in the City, the Council members argued that pavements should not be encroached upon to make way for bus shelters.