The lack of a thorough discussion and formulating the requirements of each ward was reflected in the emergency Corporation Council meeting held here on Thursday convened to approve the draft proposal for the projects to be included in the People’s Planning Programme for the 2014-15, 2015-16 financial years. Hence, many suggestions put forward by the councillors in the council meeting will now have to be discussed in the ward committee meetings to be completed in a time-frame between January 11 and 19 before bringing them to the development seminar that follows.

Welfare Standing Committee chairman Palayam Rajan said that only 57 councillors were present throughout the general body meeting called to frame the draft. Hence the major heads that came up at the ward committees were included in the draft proposal under the suggestions of 19 working groups.

The councillors said that the nine days allotted for conducting the meetings in wards to discuss the draft proposal were too short a period and that it required at least a month’s time.

The major suggestions made by the councillors included allocating enough funds for construction of houses in coastal areas under the Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) project.

In response, Mayor K Chandrika told the council that only few applicants had presented the documents for the grant of financial aid and announced a deadline of January 31 for the beneficiaries to submit the required documents.

Another demand, placed by UDF’s Mujeeb Rahman, was to sanction free water connection to the needy. The involvement of middlemen in seeking permission for tar cutting was hampering the move, he said.

Vazhuthacaud councillor Sureshkumar pointed out that town planning works need more funding for complete the projects.

The Mayor said that those who have not raised suggestions in the council meeting can submit them in writing and approved the draft proposal.

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.