The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Mayor blames predecessors for bad roads

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Sunday, Nov 28, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Mayor blames predecessors for bad roads

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, NOV. 27. The outgoing Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, on Saturday blamed his predecessors for the large number of potholes and the deteriorating condition of roads in the city.

Addressing presspersons for the last time in his capacity as Mayor, Mr. Ramesh admitted that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) had incurred losses of over Rs. 100 crores in the implementation of the Bond Road scheme.

The scheme, which initially started off with Rs. 125 crores, ran up to Rs. 235 crores because of cost escalation.

"I agree that the roads developed under this scheme are of poor quality and there have been some lapses at the implementation stage," Mr. Ramesh, who has been under severe criticism for the poor condition of roads, said. Replying to a query on why action had not been initiated against those involved in executing the substandard work, he said: "The three year guarantee period of the roads developed under this scheme had lapsed even before I took over as Mayor. The condition of the roads was the same earlier and the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) and the State Government were aware of it. Why did they not interfere then and initiate action against those involved."

The Mayor, however, clarified that he was not blaming anyone for the lapses.

"The system has to be blamed," he said.

Plans

When Mr. Ramesh took over as Mayor in November 2003, he had announced major plans about rainwater harvesting and "drain harvesting." He reiterated the plans on Saturday, a day before laying down office, and said a proposal to have ground-water recharging units at the Challaghatta and Koramangala valleys had been incorporated in the remodelling work.

A rain-harvesting park would be set up on the BMP's head office premises (near the old BMP swimming pool) and water harvesting points were being opened in hospitals and parks, he said.

"The Mysore Road drain will be covered to make way for an alternative road and this will be the first step towards having a transportation system over drains. A feasibility report on this project will soon be made available by Stup Consultants," he said.

The Mayor said a policy which would enable asphalting of roads only after a proper drainage system was put in place would soon be evolved.

`Successful' tenure

Mr. Ramesh said he had a "satisfactory" and "successful" tenure of 151 days.

"Though I had planned to visit all the 100 wards, I could make it only to 88 wards. Details about the allocation of grants under my discretionary quota (Mayor's fund) have been posted on the Net," he said.

He pointed out that he had kept aside Rs. 7 lakhs under the Mayor's Medical Grants for use by his successor because the next fund would be released only in March.

Mr. Ramesh claimed that the Geographical Information System (GIS) was his "most satisfactory" project.

"It has been implemented in eight wards and all the 100 wards will be covered by May. This system will help the BMP in the long run in augmenting revenue and tapping all properties," he said.

Mr. Ramesh released a booklet on the details of his performance as Mayor in the last one year.

During the press conference Mr. Ramesh asked journalists whether the mosquito menace in the city had come down. When told that it had not and that even the BMP head office was full of mosquitoes, the Mayor said: "No, the mosquito menace has indeed come down. I can confidently tell you this because I am sleeping without a net now."

The BMP had appointed 225 health workers and given them equipment for rapid and regular spraying of pesticides all over the city.

"This has really helped," he added.

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