The Hindu               15.02.2014

‘Waste management needed, not more roads’

Staff Reporter

Though several projects aimed at developing the city’s infrastructure have been announced, the share of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in the budget is meagre, noted Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana.

He told The Hindu that the BBMP had been counting on the State government to bail out the civic body from financial crisis. “We had sought Rs. 5,000 crore from the government. Projects worth Rs. 2,160 crore have been announced for the BBMP, but the allocation is only Rs. 1,527 crore,” he said.

Mr. Sathyanarayana is of the opinion that the city does not need ‘so many road development projects’. “The need of the hour is scientific solid waste management and solving the parking problem. While solid waste management gets only Rs. 100 crore, an allocation of Rs. 10 crore has been made for implementation of the new parking policy. Allocation to these areas should be increased,” he said.

Stating that the BBMP would write to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to increase the allocation to the BBMP, he said that Rs. 100 crore has been allotted for footpath development, but work is possible only if encroachments are removed. “For this, the government must first issue a strict order on removal of encroachments and ensure that BBMP gets police protection for the same.”

Additional revenue

Meanwhile, BBMP Commissioner M. Lakshminarayan said that the BBMP will have to mobilise around Rs. 633 crore to execute the projects mentioned in the budget. “This year, we are expecting additional revenue through Akrama Sakrama and betterment charges. We anticipate these two sources to generate around Rs. 700 crore,” he said.

The Hindu               15.02.2014

Push for drinking water schemes, underground drainage in urban areas

Earmarking Rs. 9,995 crore for urban development, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the focus will be on providing drinking water and underground drainage (UGD) system in urban areas.

Costing Rs. 697 crore

Presenting the 2014-15 budget here, Mr. Siddaramaiah said as many as 14 drinking water supply schemes and 10 underground drainage schemes will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 697 crore.

Another six water supply and seven UGD schemes under Centrally-sponsored schemes will be implemented at Rs. 247.2 crore, he said.

As many as 26,323 houses with basic infrastructure will be constructed in 39 cities for residents of 124 slums.

These houses will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 1,335 crore to make Karnataka a slum-free State, Mr. Siddaramaiah said. Setting apart Rs. 75 crore to undertake solid waste management, the Chief Minister said three modern abattoirs will be constructed with Central assistance.

Infrastructure

Improving road infrastructure has been the government’s priority, the Chief Minister said, and added 544 km of most underdeveloped roads will be improved under special development programmes.

Special grant

He also provided a special grant of Rs. 50 crore for repair of battered roads and bridges due to torrential rain in Kodagu district.

On railway projects, Mr. Siddaramaiah said action will be taken to ensure timely completion of all ongoing projects.

The government will release Rs. 540 crore for this. Lands and other facilities will be provided for rail coach factories at Kolar and Yadgir, he added. Taking paperless office a step forward, Mr. Siddaramaiah announced that online services will be introduced in all regional transport offices across the State for various works. They include filing of applications for registration of vehicles, learner’s licences and driver’s licences.

RTO services

At the same time, vehicle inspection and certification centres will be established in Gulbarga, Mangalore and Shimoga, to issue fitness certificates to commercial vehicles. To take forward the automated driving test track concept, such tracks will be set up in Bellary, Gadag and Madikeri, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.