The Hindu : Karnataka News : Ashok for more playgrounds

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Ashok for more playgrounds

Staff Reporter

Without proper space, children are forced to play on the road, he says

Minister alleges lobby behind garbage disposal
No more private malls in city's core
areas: Ashok

THIS IS THE KANTEERAVA STADIUM:BBMP councillors should not demand more indoor stadia considering existing ones are used more often for exhibitions, Home Minister R. Ashok said.

Bangalore: Home Minister R. Ashok, also Minister in-charge of Bangalore South, advised Mayor S.K. Nataraj and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Siddaiah to look at developing more playgrounds in the city.

He was speaking after inaugurating the BBMP's zonal office at Dasarahalli here on Thursday. “There's no space for children in the city to play. Any available space is turned into a park, while children are forced to play on the roads,” he said. BBMP councillors were demanding indoor stadia. “Those we already have are used more for sales promotions and exhibitions than for sports activities. We need more playgrounds,” he reiterated.

BBMP properties

He also urged the BBMP to protect lakes and its own properties. “The BBMP's 1,224 properties have been leased out… some are being used as garages, welding shops and so on. We must recover them and use them for public good,” he said.

Mr. Ashok alleged there was a big lobby behind garbage disposal. “The BBMP is trying to bring in a new system and is also keen to adopt new technologies to generate electricity from garbage. The civic authority is spending Rs. 130 crore a year to dispose of garbage,” he said.

Garbage cess

Mr. Ashok said the State Government was not in favour of garbage cess. “However, the Centre has issued regulations in this regard. We will look into them and discuss it with the BBMP Commissioner and Mayor,” he added. He said Dasarahalli MLA N. Muniraju had taken up works worth Rs. 400 crore to develop his Assembly constituency. “We will soon sanction storm water drain works for Rs. 150 crore. This will entail removal of encroachments on raja kaluves. It will help prevent flooding during monsoon,” he said.

Problematic malls

Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Ashok said that several private malls in the core city areas were compounding the traffic problem. The Government would not permit such construction in the core area henceforth.

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