BANGALORE: In an effort to end the monopoly of contractors registered with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP), the BMP Council on Tuesday resolved to allow participation of contractors from the Public Works Department of Karnataka and other States.

The resolution was adopted after a heated debate on incomplete road works under the first package of the "Complete Blacktop" asphalting in the city. Members from all parties came down heavily on the BMP officials for not getting the work done from the contractors on time.

Chamarajpet corporator Kokila Chandrashekar complained that the contractor awarded work in her ward had not asphalted even 10 per cent of the allotted roads but had submitted "bogus" bills for Rs. 60 lakhs.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader G. Basvaraju, who raised the issue pointed out that most of the works under the first package are yet to be completed. When the officials replied that 90 per cent of work under the first package have been completed, the Mayor Mumtaz Begum pulled up the engineers for "misleading" the council.

Directing Commissioner K Jothiramalingam to blacklist contractors who do not perform well, the Mayor said a major chunk of funds will be allocated for laying concrete roads in the coming budget.

"We cannot keep waiting for the asphalt contractors like this. We can resolve to take up concreting of roads instead of asphalting.

But all work under the first package should be completed by March-end," she said.

Responding to complaints that files relating to works are delayed, the Mayor said she will inspect zonal offices and ensure that files are not held up.

The Commissioner replied that he had no powers to take action against the engineers who had been deputed to the BMP from other departments.

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