BBMP to crack the whip against illegal road cutting

Y. Maheshwara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has geared up to keep a vigil on those cutting roads for one or the other purposes without availing permission.

“I have instructed ward engineers to act tough against those cutting the roads without permission. I have told them that they will be held responsible if any road at their respective ward is dug up without their knowledge. We have decided to take stern action against those cutting the roads illegally,’’ said BBMP Chief Commissioner Gaurav Gupta. The BBMP chief made it clear that the civic body would not tolerate cutting of roads by contractors, including Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) either to replace UGD or water pipes or electric cables. “There is no question of being soft towards either the Bescom or the BWSSB engineers for violating the norms. There is a method to cut and restore the roads. They have to follow scientific methods to cut or restore the roads,’’ Gaurav said.

It may be recalled that potholes on Magadi Road claimed the life of a 38-year-old teacher on Sunday. On many occasions, the High Court had also directed the BBMP authorities to ensure roads in the city free from potholes and craters.

He said the BBMP has not submitted any proposal to the state government on the garbage issue. “The BBMP has planned to address the garbage problem along with the public. We have neither sent a proposal to the government on garbage cess nor held any meeting to discuss it,’’ he said.

On delimitation of BBMP wards, the BBMP Commissioner has said that all the work on delimitation of wards has been completed after holding discussions with all stakeholders. “We will submit a report on the delimitation of wards in BBMP limits. The state government will take the necessary action on it,’’ he said.

On issuing occupancy certificates, he has said the BBMP would issue the occupancy certificates to those buildings that are constructed without violating building byelaws. “Availing occupancy certificates from the BBMP will be helpful to the building owners. It ensures data on whether the building owner is using the building for own purpose or renting it to others,’’ he said.

The BBMP Chief Commissioner has said the authorities have succeeded in containing the third wave of Covid 19 pandemic and the focus should be preparing for probable waves of the pandemic in future.

Addressing a virtual meeting with BBMP Covid- 19 expert committee, he said that with the help of the mobile triage units (MTUs), tele triaging and doctors and staff, around 3,000 Covid infected persons are being triaged at their home every day. “The number of covid-19 cases is decreasing. The third wave is being met successfully with the help of all. We have to be ready to face another new wave of the pandemic arriving in the future,’’ he said.