The Indian Express            01.10.2013

Lopsided fund allocation for repairs in BMC's C3 buildings

In the budget for 2013-2014, the BMC has provided for only 15 per cent of the total estimated cost for repairs to be carried out on C3 category municipal buildings, which require major structural repairs though evacuation is not necessary. Allocation for each ward shows arbitrariness in the amount provided vis-a-vis funds required.

An estates department report revealed that while the estimated for repairs on C3 category BMC owned properties was Rs 12.34 crore, provision of only Rs 1.92 crore was made this year. Additional Rs 11.63 crore have now been sought. There are 22 BMC-owned buildings classified as 'C3' that are in need of repairs. According to the report, of Rs 1.92 crore, roughly Rs 53 lakh has been sanctioned for the K-West ward (comprising Vile Parle, Andheri and Jogeshwari west), and G-South ward (Worli) where the estimated cost has been recorded as 'nil'. Remarks in the report on these wards state, "repairs not required".

More than 60 per cent of the budget has been directed towards B (Pydhonie, Sandhurst Road, Masjid Bunder), C (Bhuleshwar, Dhobi Talao, and Bhendi Bazaar) and D (Malabar Hill, Nepean Sea Road, and Worli) wards, where the estimate is pegged at Rs 21 lakh. No funds have been provided to the M-east and N wards, which include Ghatkopar, Chembur and Mankhurd, despite a collective requirement of Rs 6 crore.

Additional municipal commissioner SVR Srinivas, in charge of the estates department, said, "The budget is drawn up based on the suggestions the department makes before the end of the financial year. We are reviewing the provisions and will make appropriate changes."

The Hindu            01.10.2013

Town Planning post may no longer be most sought after

Staff Reporter

Officials will now be roped in to monitor solid waste management in the city

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) Town Planning Department seems to be the favourite destination for officials on deputation, given the number of officials who come with “recommendation letters”.

Monitoring waste

To put an end to this, BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan said Town Planning officials would now be roped in to monitor solid waste management in the city. The officials on deputation would now be assigned to at least one ward where they would have to monitor garbage clearance from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., before reporting to work at the Town Planning Department.

The officials would also have to report to zonal chief engineers every day.

Issue discussed

This issue was discussed at the BBMP council meeting on Monday. Ruling party leader N. Nagaraj, opposition leader B.N. Manjunath Reddy, Dr. Rajkumar ward councillor Gangabyraiah, Jayamahal councillor M.K. Gunashekar, Kacharakanahalli councillor Padmanabh Reddy and Nagapura councillor S. Harish noted that the BBMP should decide where to place the officials who come on deputation. “There are few who come with ‘recommendation letters’ from Vidhana Soudha and demand a certain post in a particular department. This is not a right precedent,” they said.

Mr. Nagaraj demanded that officials on deputation be repatriated to their parent departments, while Mr. Gangabyraiah charged that the BBMP does not have any control over these officials.

Under pressure

Mr. Lakshminarayan admitted that he had been facing pressure to appoint certain officials on deputation in the Town Planning Department for the past four months. The BBMP cannot have more officials in the department exceeding the number of sanctioned posts. The Mayor had directed that officials from the Public Works Department would not be accommodated in Town Planning.

Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayan directed the Standing Committee for Personnel and Administrative Reforms to submit the list of officials on deputation working in the BBMP, especially in the Town Planning Department, within a week.