Cash-strapped Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has put up
more than 2,000 properties for adoption by private companies and
educational institutions.

While some will be available for
complete adoption on a long term, some others are partially available
for a short term. BBMP’s ‘Namma Bengaluru, Namma Koduge’ (Our Bangalore,
Our Contribution) initiative aims to involve private people in
developing and maintaining BBMP properties.

Mayor B S
Sathyanarayana said a committee has been constituted to identify the
properties and their requirements. The committee members include BJP
councillors P Sadashiva (Sunkenahalli ward), B V Ganesh (Chamarajpet),
Latha Narasimha Murthy (HSR Layout) and BBMP officials who head Forest,
Lake, Health and Education departments.

“At present, we are
conducting zone-wise meetings where private parties are attending. We
conducted our first meeting at West zone on Wednesday where around 35
members attended and on Thursday, at Bommanahalli, 40 people attended.
We will give the properties for adoption for three years. If we are
satisfied with their work, we will extend it further,” he added

BBMP
Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said they have identified more than
2,000 properties including parks, traffic islands, hospitals, lakes,
schools and colleges. He also said they are waiting for a date from
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to inaugurate the event.

The BBMP has
loans of over Rs 3,500 crore, including Rs 1,600 crore to be paid to
various contractors. It has mortgaged many of its properties in prime
locations to avail loans of Rs 1,600 crore. The BBMP was criticised by
various sections when it planned to pledge the Town Hall for Rs 200
crore.

Properties up for Adoption

Education: BBMP Education
officer (in-charge) Manjunath Swamy said they have identified six BBMP
schools with less student strength for complete adoption and 80 schools
for repairs and major works. “However, we are seeking support from
private parties to academically support all our 150 BBMP schools and
colleges,” he said.

Forest: BBMP Chief Conservator of Forest
Brijesh Kumar said there are 1,050 BBMP parks of which, except a few,
all are available for adoption. “We are ready to give these parks for
maintenance for terms varying from three months to one year,” he added.

Health:
BBMP Chief Health Officer Dr Vatsala said, “We have already given
around six hospitals to private parties. We are yet to finalise the list
and it is expected to be completed by next week.”

Lakes: A
senior BBMP official said there are 55 lakes under BBMP, of which five,
including Ulsoor, Uttarahalli, Ambalipura, Chinnapanahalli and
Kaikondanahalli are already given to private parties for adoption. “Of
the remaining 50 lakes, there are two types of adoption — some need
development (de-silting, deviating sewage water and treatment) while
others need maintenance (laying joggers’ path, clearing litter and
electrification),” the official said.

Grievance Meet Today

BBMP
is organising a public grievance meet on issues related to the revenue
department in East zone, at the BBMP office on Queens Road on Friday.
Revenue department related problems in Hebbal, Pulikeshinagar and
Shivajinagar Assembly constituencies will be heard.

CNR Rao Underpass to Open on June 22

After
missing many deadlines to open CNR Rao Underpass, the Mayor on Thursday
said it will be open to the public on January 22. He said the
Malleswaram-Yeshwantpur stretch will be opened on January 22. “At
present, work on the loop that connects Sadashivanagar police station is
in progress,” he added.