Stormy meet at BBMP council

The Congress, which alleged the ruling party to be partial towards its own members, staged a walkout only to return within 15 minutes. The council session continued in their absence and councillors were given a chance to voice the problems of their wards.

The death of an engineering student, for which the Palike and the BESCOM have been blamed, hogged the limelight.

Udayashankar of Siddapura raised the issue and members agreed that the contractors were not doing enough to ensure that there was no residual garbage on the roads, which could avert mishaps in future.

JD(S) leader Padmanabha Reddy asked Mayor S K Nataraj to consider installing a statue of Kempegowda in front of Vidhana Soudha, to which the Mayor said there were plans to build a Kempegowda Bhavan as well.

Speaking of the problems faced by pedestrians, Jayamahal councillor Gunashekar said that bus stops were being built on footpaths, making access difficult for walkers and others. He said that these bus stops also sported hoardings and it was not clear if BBMP was getting its due share of the taxes from this.

On the havoc caused by the recent rains in the city, Commissioner Siddaiah said that necessary measures were in place and 60 new squads had been formed to counter such situations in future.

He said that remodelling of drains was a lengthy process, but would be ready for next monsoon. Opposition leader M Nagaraj demanded a probe into the works related to stormwater drains and other drains to ensure that officials are doing their job and not showing forged bills for works. The issue of deputation came up again as the Dr Rajkumar ward councillor Gangabhyriah alleged that unqualified and undeserving officials were being re-instated into the same posts they were earlier suspended from.