The Hindu 14.01.2011
Park your expenses in right areas, BBMP officials told
‘Civic body spending crores on landscaping and beautification’
New dress code: Janata Dal (S) councillors wearing Gandhi caps carrying
messages against ‘maladministration’, in the BBMP Council hall on
Thursday. — Photo: K. Gopinathan
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has spent Rs. 746.78 lakh
on sinking 233 borewells; Rs. 412.85 lakh on construction of 145
watchmen sheds; Rs. 441.94 lakh on 5,209 park benches; Rs. 107.78 lakh
on 2,030 dustbins in parks; Rs. 547.5 lakh on 185 gazebos…
M. Nagaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the BBMP
Council, pointed out several such expenditures over “park components” by
the civic authority’s Horticulture Department. He charged that the
officials had squandered public money by spending unnecessarily on
beautification materials in various parks.
The issue was discussed in detail by several councillors
who also opposed the “wasteful expenditure” on landscaping and
beautification of city’s parks.
Tree parks
Commissioner Siddaiah said that the BBMP was now giving
thrust to tree parks, instead of landscaped parks. He said that this was
essential as the city had lost its green cover to various development
projects. “We are already facing water shortage and landscaped parks
require a lot of water. The Council and Mayor may take a decision on the
same,” he said.
Chairperson of the Standing Committee for Horticulture
K. Ranganna claimed that around 50 parks across the city lacked
maintenance and demanded funds.
Gandhigiri
Earlier, Janata Dal (S) councillors entered the Council
hall wearing Gandhi caps. Each cap had a different message. JD(S) Floor
Leader Padmanabha Reddy said that the BJP with its maladministration was
cheating people. “Though we have brought to light several
irregularities that were committed during the Administrator’s period, no
action has been taken. The issues must be investigated by the
Lokayukta,” he said.
Later, soon after the suspension of 15 MLAs was
recommended in the Legislative Assembly, Congress and JD(S) councillors
in the BBMP raised slogans against the BJP Government and staged a
walk-out. The BJP councillors continued the meeting in their absence and
even passed the subjects.
