The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Citizens’ agenda for better city

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Monday, Jun 30, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Citizens’ agenda for better city

Staff Reporter

Issues ranging from taxes to stray dogs discussed at workshop

Work on first phase of BSUP project to take off in August this year
11,603 houses to be built at a cost of Rs. 252.18 crore for slum dwellers

Bangalore: A policy for housing for urban poor, proper sanitation in slums, dual pipeline for water supply in new layouts, effective garbage clearance and clean air… these were some of the issues raised by members of various residents’ welfare organisations at “Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure Development” (ABIDe), an interactive workshop for citizens organised by the Government here on Saturday.

The issues ranged from a demand to continue the existing Self-Assessment Scheme (SAS) of property tax in the city to regulation of dog menace. All encroached pavements should be cleared, playgrounds preserved and unauthorised hoardings removed, the members added.

While a resident of Sadashivnagar wanted to know if the authorities had sanctioned a 13-floor apartment complex in his area, another from N.R. Colony urged the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to regulate the dog menace in the city.

“People should not allow their pets to urinate or defecate outside their homes. This will help in maintaining hygiene in the surroundings,” she said.

Doris Raj, a participant, demanded that the authorities set up hawker zones and food courts to prevent encroachment of pavements.

Nominated MLC Leela said, “Footpaths are meant for pedestrians and they should be kept only for that purpose.”

Shivajinagar MLA R. Roshan Baig wanted the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to check the underground leakage of water. The racecourse should be shifted to the outskirts and the existing land should be maintained as an open space, he said.

While former Mayor M. Ramchandrappa wanted the continuance of SAS, another former Mayor P.R. Ramesh demanded an exclusive housing policy for the urban poor.

Earlier, officials from the Karnataka Slum Clearance Board, BWSSB and BBMP made presentations on the various projects undertaken by them.

In her address, Principal Secretary (Housing) Sobha Nambisan said that work on the first phase of “Basic Services for the Urban Poor” (BSUP) project would take off in August. As many as 11,603 houses would be built at a cost of Rs. 252.18 crore. This would benefit people in 30 slums in the city.

Under the second phase, 3,151 houses would be built at a cost of Rs. 124.27 crore for residents of 16 slums. The project was being taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Work on the first phase had been entrusted to the Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation, she added.

BWSSB Chairperson Lata Krishna Rao said the board faced a shortfall of 349 million litres per day (MLD) to meet the drinking water demand which was 1,219 MLD in the BBMP areas.

Ms. Rao said that the board had chalked out an integrated water management project for reusing water from lakes in the city. In the first phase, water from five lakes would be treated and reused. Tenders for management of Nagavara and Bellandur lakes had been invited, she said.

BBMP Deputy Commissioner (Resources) U.A. Vasanth Rao said the civic body had developed a modern landfill in Doddaballapur, which would start functioning from Monday. All garbage trucks would be fitted with GPS equipment to monitor their movement, he added.

The presentation made by Karnataka Housing Board officials outlined the board’s new projects in Hinnaki, Lingapura and Marasur villages of Anekal taluk, high-rise residential apartment complex in Yelahanka and the proposed apartment complex in Suryanagar.

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