The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Chief Minister inspects Puttenahalli, BTM Layout

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Chief Minister inspects Puttenahalli, BTM Layout

Staff Reporter

Visits areas on a request from residents who met him on Monday Visits areas on a request from residents who met him on Monday

Bangalore: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has said he will direct the officials concerned to begin repairing 29th Main in BTM Layout on Wednesday.

He visited BTM Layout and Puttenahalli on Tuesday at the request of a few residents who met him on Monday and urged him to visit the areas and direct officials to improve civic amenities. Health Minister R. Ashok, Mayor Mumtaz Begum, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board Chairman M.C. Muniyappa, Bangalore Development Authority Commissioner M.N. Vidyashankar and Deputy Commissioner (Urban) M.A. Sadiq accompanied the Chief Minister.

Mr. Kumaraswamy assured the residents of BTM Layout that work would begin on Wednesday and would be completed within 90 days. He also promised to sanction Rs. 3.5 crore for road repairs and beautification of the tank in the area, which would be done in stages.

With regard to heavy vehicles using 29th Main, he said once construction of the flyover was completed, traffic would be diverted and the problem solved.

The Chief Minister also visited Puttenahalli. "This is my second visit to Puttenahalli. I am not happy with the progress of works here," he said. He said he would take steps to make sure that the quality of work was maintained.

Encroachments

Regarding encroachments, Mr. Kumaraswamy said a survey to identify illegal structures was on. As of now, 600 illegal structures had been identified. Asked if all the encroachments would be removed, he said the Government would take a humanitarian approach while removing them. Structures or buildings on revenue land would be regularised.

"It does not look as if the Lake Development Authority has spent Rs. 3 lakh on the beautification of Sarakki Lake as is being claimed," he said.

Mr. Kumaraswamy also said that Puttenahalli was flooded after the heavy rainfall last year. "This year, the Government is in the process of acquiring land so that a proper drainage system can be put in place," he said.

He sanctioned Rs. 2.9 crore for the development of the area.

Nirmala Maskeri, a resident of BTM Layout, said, "I am very happy that the Chief Minister, in spite of his busy schedule, has taken time to visit the area. He has promised us that work will be completed in 90 days. I am sure he will keep his word."

Another resident alleged that the Mayor had torn the memorandum that the residents submitted recently. "It was then that we decided to go and meet the Chief Minister," he said.

Another resident said, "The roads have been cleaned only today. Otherwise, the entire stretch is in a mess all the time. The dust and the noise from vehicles have made life almost impossible for us here."

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