BBMP, builders focus on development

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) held an interactive session with several builders in the city on Tuesday. Speaking about the frequent requests of officials seeking deputation to Town Planning Department, BBMP Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda said monetary gains lured officials for deputation to that department.

He said, henceforth, engineers coming to the BBMP with “influence” letters seeking deputation to Town Planning Department will be deputed to Storm Water Drain (SWD) department.

“The BBMP lacks engineers in SWD department and road construction, and on the other hand, there are too many engineers in Town Planning Department. The BBMP has four assistant directors in each zone in this department. They will soon  be made two,” he said.

Responding to a query by President of CREDAI Nagaraj, Gowda said they can take advantage of the Sakaala scheme to get khata within a stipulated time.

‘Rules Misused’

Referring to a move on allowing 20 per cent of commercial establishments in residential areas, Gowda said Bangalore’s Comprehensive Development Plan 2007 allowed the setting up of useful shops, clinics, drug stores in the neighbourhood of residential areas.

“This rule has been misused. The High Court has also insisted that there should be no commercial establishments in residential areas and we will implement the order very soon,” he said.

Development of Slums

Nagaraj suggested that as part of social responsibility, they were ready to develop slums in the city and urged the BBMP to provide space for the purpose.

Welcoming his proposal, Gowda said slums could be developed on public private partnership model.

He urged builders to develop tree parks. “There are more than 1,300 parks, which can be developed as tree parks. We are ready to provide space and saplings,” Gowda stated.

He added that instead of creating lawns in apartments,  it was better if builders could develop tree parks.

Wind Energy

BBMP proposed to install wind energy turbines on high-rise buildings, especially on apartments which have more than 20 floors. “The initial cost is, however, more. We can also think of tax exemption for these builders,” he said.

Garbage Disposal Units

Gowda urged builders to create awareness on primary segregation, among the occupants of their apartments. “The occupants have to segregate wet and dry waste. We are going to construct ward-wise segregation units across the city. With this, garbage disposal problem will reduce to extent,” the BBMP commissioner said.