Watchdogs required to monitor projects

The civic body is facing difficulties in reeling in 45 City Volunteer Technical Corps to monitor several projects under JNNURM funding; ironically only 15 have come forward so far and the search continues

Watchdogs required to monitor projects

The civic body is struggling hard to find 45 watchdogs to monitor quality and curtail malpractices in infrastructure projects under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewable Mission (JNNURM) funding.

Last week, the BBMP issued advertisements inviting volunteers to assume the responsibility of City Volunteer Technical Corps (CVTC). After the first advertisement, the civic body managed to find just 15 volunteers.

Smooth ride: Around 800 of the 1,000 new buses for the city, proposed
under the recently-introduced Rs 150 crore stimulus package for state,
are on the roads. File pic

"People want a salary for the job, while we are looking for someone who can do it without charging a fee," said S Roopa, head of Social Committee Development.

Through JNNURM, the government of India extended a helping hand to urban civic bodies to undertake a massive city modernisation scheme. It envisages a total investment of over $20 billion over seven years.

Tough task ahead
"We had called the tender a week ago, but till now have received only 15 applications, of which, two were rejected" Roopa added.
The wing had 17 projects under its belt, which were supposed to be executed along with BBMP, but still none of them are progressing at full-swing.
The latest one to come under the scanner was the Kadiranahalli underpass and flyover. The contractor of the project was penalised Rs 80 lakh for gross violation in construction. Experts attribute this to the unavailability of CVTC.
An official with JNNURM said that the volunteers are meant to monitor projects ensuring their timely completion without any discrepancy, but can also do a lot more.
"We need them to boost the otherwise diminishing commitment levels. Pressure coming from different politicos is eroding interest among stakeholders, which eventually benefits the contractors," an urban planner said.
Nothing less will do
CVTC must have 45 members across urban engineering, planning, poverty alleviation, community development/social audit, legal services, governance, heritage, environment and financial services.
From the government end, there are three institutions in-charge of monitoring JNNURM projects. These are the National Institute of Urban Affairs, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy and the Administrative staff college of India.