Promises galore at high profile summit

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, JAN. 24. Pronouncements of short-term and long-term commitments from different civic agencies to make Bangalore the best city in India by 2004, promises of huge contributions from the corporate sector, launching of a website for the Bangalore Forward Movement, and a Rs. 250- crore slum rehabilitation programme were the highlights of the high-profile Bangalore Summit held here today.

Another highlight was the statement of Mr. Ananth Kumar, Union Minister for Sports and Culture, that the Centre might give its approval to the Bangalore International Airport in a fortnight.

Inaugurated and witnessed throughout the day by the Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, the one-day summit - fashionably called as ``Bangalore Forward'' - was organised by the Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF), constituted by the State Government to coordinate efforts to build a better Bangalore. The summit was described as the ``kick-off event,'' unveiling the Government's vision for the City.

The different stakeholders - Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Bangalore City Police and Bangalore Telecom - announced what they would do during the next six months and during the next four years to provide better infrastructure to the City.

Some of the short-term plans to be implemented by these agencies by June 2000 are: Development of 300 km of road surface of decent motorable standards; refurbishing existing power distribution lines for better and reliable power supply; and introduction of police patrols and reorganisation of beat system.

Long-term schemes

The long-term schemes announced by the different service agencies included construction of flyovers, better solid waste management and putting an end to flow of sewage into the storm water drains.

In his inaugural address, the Chief Minister announced that the HUDCO had agreed to his proposal to give Rs. 250 crores for taking up improvement of slums. He said he received a message from the HUDCO this morning confirming its willingness to assist the project.

The Chief Minister took a dig at the media for comparing Bangalore with Hyderabad. He noted that a recent survey conducted by an international magazine on the best cities in the world, had given 19th rank to Bangalore while Bombay took the 40th position. ``And, your Hyderabad does not figure anywhere in the list,'' he said and added: ``I leave it to the media to decide whether or not to compare the two cities.''

Mr. Krishna said a similar approach (constituting teams such as BATF) could be adopted to develop other towns and cities in the State. He would ask the district in-charge ministers to look into this aspect.

Taking serious view of the violations of building bylaws and zonal regulation by people, he said he had instructed the authorities to deal with it ``without fear or favour.'' He said the Government had an open mind on the changes required in the laws to curb such violations. He would support any effort of the BATF in this direction.

Mr. Nandan Nilekani, Director, Infosys, who is heading the BATF, said action, accountability, audit and activism (involvement of the citizens) would be part of a continuous process to build a better Bangalore. The targets, which the stakeholders had agreed to achieve, would be reviewed once in six months.

The targets were in tune with the results of a survey conducted by the BATF covering 1,258 respondents. The people's priorities - as the survey had revealed - were better roads, good garbage removal system, pollution control, toilets in public places, proper sewage lines, power transmission management and ban on alcohol outlets in residential outlets - in that order. The survey had revealed interesting facts: as many as 14 per cent of the people were willing to pay more taxes, while 6 per cent were willing to donate funds to develop the City. Those who were willing to educate others on being good citizens were 28 per cent. Thus, 48 per cent of the population were willing to contribute their money or energy for the purpose, while the remaining 52 per cent were willing to contribute by being good citizens.

The Mayor, Mr. M. Ramachandrappa, said it was time to develop the city keeping the interests of the future generations in mind.

Mr. Ananth Kumar said the Centre had shortlisted eight of 16 tender-applicants for the Bangalore International Airport. The Centre was likely to finalise tenders and approve the project in a matter of 10 to 15 days. Mr. Ananth Kumar congratulated the BATF on ``their good work in short time.''

Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister for Home, Mr. Roshan Baig, Minister for Tourism, Mr. Chimmanakatti, Minister for Urban Development, and a host of elected representatives from the City, mainly councillors, took part in the summit.

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