The Hindu                09.10.2013

Bijapur DC promises to implement master plan

Deputy Commissioner Ritwik Ranjan Pandey said he was
studying the long-pending ‘Master Plan’ project of Bijapur city for
improving basic facilities and infrastructure of the city.

Speaking to
The Hindu
here on Tuesday, he said the project would be implemented strictly after
going through the guidelines laid down by the government, and added
that efforts would also be made to clear any legal or administrative
hurdles for the time-bound implementation of the project.

He
said that since he took over the charge only recently, he needed some
time to study the project before taking necessary steps.

The
‘Master Plan’ for the developing Bijapur city has been pending for
years without seeing any headway. Many people believe that the ambitious
programme was relegated to the backburner because of lack of political
will and lack of interest among the previous Deputy Commissioners in the
project.

Since ‘Master Plan’ proposed the demolition
of many shops in prominent market areas for road-widening, the
resistance for the project was coming mainly from the shopkeepers.

“Every
time the matter of implementing the ‘Master Plan’ surfaces, some
influential traders exert pressure on the local MLA or other elected
representatives to see that the project never takes off.

“Unfortunately,
the elected representatives too act as per the whims and fancies of the
traders and give a damn to the interest of common people,” said an
irate political leader who did not wish to be identified.

Meanwhile
Mr. Pandey said that if the guidelines of the project mention
time-bound implementation, then the project would be commenced as soon
as possible by resolving all issues.

He said the
first priority would be given to the development of roads and other
infrastructure under ‘urban development project’ for which Rs. 100 crore
had been allocated by the government.