The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Tips from people for good governance

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Sunday, Jun 29, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Tips from people for good governance

Staff Reporter

Bangaloreans want more accountability from officials

One citizen suggested local residents’ views must be obtained in case of land use change
There was a complaint that BBMP does not respond to emails

Bangalore: What do Bangaloreans want the Government to do to improve administration of its agencies in the city?

Guidelines for public-private partnerships (PPPs), ward-level planning committees comprising residents, mandatory consent of residents for land use conversion, effective enforcement of schemes and laws, a non-profit house building society, transparency at every level, accountability for staff, people’s participation, feedback to public These are among a host of suggestions put forward by people during a discussion on “Urban planning, resource mobilisation and good governance” organised as part of ABIDE on Saturday.

The proposal made by the committee, headed by K. Kasturirangan, MP and Director of National Institute for Advance Studies (NIAS), to form a Metropolitan Planning Committee received appreciation from the participants.

Revenue

N.S. Mukund, president of the Citizens’ Action Forum, pointed out that the BBMP could increase its annual revenue to Rs. 3,750 crore by streamlining the property tax net, advertisement, building and trade licences and parking fee norms.

Bringing all properties under tax net itself would fetch Rs. 2,950 crore, without introducing the capital value system based assessment of property tax, Mr. Mukund claimed.

While, M. Thomas, a resident, said that the Government should have guidelines for PPPs, Nayana Tara of the Indian Institute of Management suggested that local residents’ view must be obtained in case of land use change.

Non-profit society

Naresh Narasimhan, an architect, suggested that a non-profit building society should be created for providing housing as was done in some foreign countries. Vidyadhar S. Wodeyar, a town planner, said the Government should increase the guidance value of the properties in tune with the real market value, but should reduce stamp duty, which would result in more revenue to the Government. Mr. Wodeyar opposed stamp duty exemption to software and other firms.

No response

Pranav, a youth, said that authorities like BBMP and agencies did not respond to people’s emails. He wanted the Government to impose higher property tax every year on structures built in violation of bylaws after regularising them under Sakrama scheme, instead of pardoning such illegal activities by collecting only a one-time penalty.

Accountability on the part of public servants, transparency at every level of administration, dissemination of most of the information through website, need for people’s participation were the other suggestions.

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