Projects have suffered drawbacks or simply surpassed deadlines because the civic body has not been consulting the Meteorological department for monsoon updates for the past three years
Projects have suffered drawbacks or simply surpassed deadlines because the civic body has not been consulting the Meteorological department for monsoon updates for the past three years
ADVERTISEMENT
u00a0
Ignorance on the part of the BBMP to prepare for the approaching monsoon season and its disinterest in consulting with the Meteorological department to plan projects accordingly has resulted in crores of public money going to waste.
Better late than never? The BBMP will not put any agency on a blacklist
or derecognise them for the delay. Representation pic
Besides this, even ambitious projects such as the underpass and flyover costing over Rs 100 crore have crossed the deadline a year ago.u00a0
Always late
The corporation had six ambitious projects worth Rs 145 crore planned two years ago, the bridge over the storm water drain at Gali Anjenya Temple being one among them. This project was estimated at Rs 20 crore and was supposed to be completed in March 2010, but is only 50 per cent finished and currently has fallen victim to the recent rains. The situation is similar with the underpass at Outer Ring Road and Kadirenahalli junction, which was estimated to cost Rs 28 crore. The stretch was supposed to be inaugurated in November 2009, but the current status of the project as per the BBMP website is only 39 per cent complete.
Excuse book
Former Mayor P R Ramesh took on the civic body and questioned the excuses, which it claimed was causing the delays. He said, "Any project has an 18 to 24 month deadline. Now that the said deadlines have passed, public money has been expended and vehicular and pedestrian movement has been affected. All this is because the corporation had not adopted a proper system. If they plan to blame the rain for the delay, let them take it out from their book of excuses."
Ramesh also said that the next step the corporation will take is to announce that it would penalise project contractors for the delay, but at whose cost.
No info needed?
The MET department informed that no one from the civic body has approached them for details of the monsoon bulletin in past three years. This could be one of the reasons that many projects have been jeopardised.
"The government has set up the department for the benefit of the public. Farmers use our stats to sow the seeds, but the corporation, which has several projects in the pipeline has never bothered to consult us. As a result, public money and life gets affected," B Puttanna, scientist at the MET department said.
Hari Dass, an executive engineer with the civic body said that the agencies handling the projects are to blame. "We would not put any agency on a blacklist or derecognise them for the delay, but will penalise them," he said.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
