Karnataka Govt to form advisory group for ‘new thinking’ towards Global Bengaluru

This is along the lines of several Vision Groups and Task Forces formed in the state over the last two decades. Prominent members of such groups include Infosys co-founders N R Narayan Murthy and Nandan Nilekani, Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Wipro founder chairman Azim Premji, and others.

Briefing reporters after a meeting with various agencies such as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore Development Authority, and others, Shivakumar said the projects undertaken by civic agencies such as BBMP will be mapped at the ward level to bring in accountability and transparency.

Each ward should have a separate file for all projects undertaken in its limits, such as the number of roads, work carried out on it, the department that carried out the works, whether it was asphalt or cement road, and duration of works, among others. The entire process of the work undertaken will be photographed and videographed.

“There should be evidence for all works carried out. Video of the work should be uploaded every day and must be included in BBMP files,” Shivakumar said.

Officials have also been directed to prepare a Plan of Action to tackle flooding caused due to rain in parts of the city. Shivakumar said discussions were held on the issue of bottlenecks that cause flooding, adding that he will visit a few such sites in the next few days. Stormwater drains are being desilted to prevent flooding, he added.

The government will take steps to prevent the dumping of construction debris along roads in some parts of the city, he said. BBMP and the police and transport department will have to coordinate to ensure that roads are kept clean and act against those dumping such debris.

According to sources, some MLAs also made a suggestion to divide BBMP into smaller corporations. Though first mooted during Siddaramaiah’s tenure in 2015, it was shelved due to protests from Opposition BJP.