Mayor bats for bigger role for BBMP

Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy, on Saturday said, BBMP councillors including the mayor have the right to discuss people’s problems. Addressing a consultation session on ‘Draft Ward Committee and Area Sabha Rules’ organised by Citizens’ Voluntary Initiative for City (CIVIC), Bangalore, he alleged BBMP officials do not undertake any work suggested by BBMP councillors.

“Details relating to big projects are not given to public by officials. The government is not granting right kind of powers to BBMP councillors and BBMP officials often take advantage of this.” He suggested that, like in Mumbai, people should elect their mayor and he should enjoy a five-year term.

“Services provided by BDA, BMTC, Bescom and BWSSB should be brought under BBMP,” he said.

Murthy said the corporators had no information about buildings and projects worth crores of rupees even though construction of drains costing lakh of rupees is discussed elaborately in the council meeting.

According to him, in the present system, even when the mayor directs suspension of derelict employee, the order is not given effect to. “Without consulting BBMP councillors, officials prepared a list of 216 road widening projects. Out of these, only eight were undertaken,” he said.

There have been complaints that ward panels have not been established according to rules.