JOIN USThe Palike’s monthly meeting on Wednesday discussed desilting and construction of seamless stormwater drains (SWD) that are vital during the monsoon.
Pointing at the Palike’s failure to tackle rain havoc in the City in the past years, Congress floor leader M K Gunashekar said the BBMP had failed to provide any relief to residents during the monsoon.
“Although the State government has sanctioned funds for the construction of SWDs in the City, the amount released under the JNNURM scheme remains underutilised,” he said.
Hundreds of crores of rupees have been spent on clearing the four valleys of Koramangala, Hebbal, Challaghatta and Vrushabhavathi, but to no avail, he added.
Corporator of Gurappanapalya, Mohammad Rizwan raised the issue of shoulder drains that remain clogged in most parts of the City.
Addressing the issues raised in the meeting, Palike Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda said an action plan was submitted to the Centre regarding clearing of encroachments on SWDs.
A meeting will be convened in New Delhi on Wednesday afternoon to resolve the issue, he added.
He said the BBMP had spent nearly Rs 410 crore between 2006-2011 for the development of four valleys, under the JNNURM, at a cost of Rs 925 crore.
“We had taken up 15 packages in the initial phase which had to be scrapped on account of the Technical Committee pointing out loopholes in the Detailed Project Reports (DPR).
As a result we had to revamp the entire project into 21 packages at a cost of Rs 510 crore. The new proposal has been sent to the State government and the Centre has given its in-principle approval for the same,” he said.
The Council, meanwhile, passed four resolutions regarding various initiatives to be taken up by the BBMP under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. A resolution extending Rs two lakh under the Mayor’s medical benevolent fund to all the wards too was passed.
Rubbish gift
To highlight the problems faced by the residents of ward, Peenya Industrial Area Corporator Thimmananjeya, on Wednesday, tried to give a gift- wrapped box to Mayor D Venkateshmurthy.
The box was allegedly filled with garbage that was dumped by residents of his ward in front of his office.
Noting that as many as six truckfuls of garbage were dumped in front of his office, Thimmananjeya said the gift was the Mayor’s share, as he too was responsible for not clearing garbage.
Taken by surprise, the Mayor immediately ordered the Special Commissioner to visit Peenya Industrial Area and inspect the place.