The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Stop digging roads, BESCOM told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 01, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Stop digging roads, BESCOM told

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, AUG. 31. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) on Tuesday directed the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) to immediately stop digging roads for laying cables.

At the BMP Council meeting here, the Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, directed the BMP Commissioner, K. Jothiramalingam, to ask BESCOM to stop digging as it had failed to comply with the "Road opening and restoration protocol" and the agreement signed between the two agencies.

'Promise broken'

"Though the power utility had promised to rectify the dug up portions of roads and upgrade two-metre-wide pavements on particular stretches, it has failed to keep the promise. Stop their work and frame a fresh agreement with them," Mr. Ramesh told Mr. Jothiramalingam.

He was replying to the Opposition leader, B.R. Nanjundappa, who displayed a copy of The Hindu dated August 30 that carried a report about a dispute between the BMP and BESCOM over road digging. He demanded that the BMP withdraw the permission given to the power utility to dig roads.

"The power utility has dug up over 70 km of roads which were recently asphalted. But it has conveniently forgotten to restore the roads and take up pavement upgrading as promised. How can we keep quiet when our roads are being destroyed?" he asked.

Permission given

The BMP Engineer-in-Chief, Ramegowda, informed the members that BESCOM had taken permission from the BMP to dig over 250 km of roads and replace old underground cables with 11 kV lines for improving the power distribution system.

"As per its agreement with the BMP, BESCOM should restore the dug up portions of the road and upgrade two-metre wide pavements on those stretches. We have set up three zonal teams to monitor the work," he said and added that the matter would be discussed with the BESCOM officials.

New deadline

After members from all parties questioned the delay in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) completing the Rs. 150-crore project to lay water and underground drainage lines in new wards, the Mayor directed the water board to complete the work by September 30.

"I am giving you a fresh deadline. If you fail to complete the project by then, we will stage a protest demonstration in front of your head office," he told the BWSSB Chief Engineer, Basavaraju.

The Commissioner said he would convene a meeting with the new BWSSB Chairman, S.K Pattanayak, in a week's time to discuss the issue.

Cases

Members expressed displeasure over cases being filed against corporators for taking up the BMP's work.

They were referring to a non-bailable warrant issued against the D.J. Halli corporator, Rajni Murthy, in connection with a case related to laying of drainage lines.

The BMP Commissioner, K. Jothiramalingam, said he would speak to the Police Commissioner about the matter.

Corporator complains

against MLA — Page 6

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