The Hindu : BMP won't pay for water supplied through public taps

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

BMP won't pay for water supplied through public taps

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE March 26. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has decided not to make payments to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for water supplied through public taps. However, it is willing to pay for metered water supply to parks and schools, the BMP Commissioner, M.R. Sreenivas Murthy, informed corporators on Wednesday.

Intervening in the budget discussions at the BMP Council meeting, Mr. Murthy said the BWSSB had asked the BMP to pay bill arrears of over Rs. 120 crore for water supplied through public taps. "We can't pay for public taps and water leakage on roads. We have written to the Government about this,'' he said.

Besides, the BMP has decided to pay only for installing new underground drainage (UGD) lines, and not for repairs and replacement of old lines, Mr. Murthy said. ``It is the responsibility of the BMP to install new UGD lines in wards that do not have them. But it is the responsibility of the BWSSB to replace old lines,'' he added.

Earlier, members from all parties complained about overflowing sanitary lines and blocked lines in residential areas. ``The BWSSB engineers tell us that the lines have to changed. Why can't you pay the BWSSB and get the lines replaced by larger pipes?'' S.K. Nataraj of the BJP and B.R. Nanjundappa of the JD-S asked.

B.T. Srinivas Murthy, Azadnagar corporator, wanted to know why the BMP Commissioner had suggested to the Government to modify the functions of the Standing Committee on Appeals. ``The appeals committee is the only panel that is authorised to listen to people's grievances. How can the committee be abolished?'' he asked. He alleged that several officials had drawn advance of over Rs. 50 lakh from the Accounts Department.

Mr. Nataraj demanded that utensils and other goods seized from roadside eateries and cool-drink parlours during raids be returned. He criticised health officials for destroying food items which were kept for sale at the eateries.

The Leader of the Opposition, Syed Jameel Ahmed, and N.L. Narendra Babu, Nagpur corporator, supported Mr. Nataraj's demand for collection of service tax from private schools and colleges. P.R. Ramesh, Visvesvarapuram corporator, said a high-mast light installed in his ward a year ago was yet to be used. "Bescom has not provided electricity connection, as the BMP has not cleared some bills. Repeated pleas to the officials concerned have not helped," he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

BMTC starts 'Ring Road Service'

Insurance scheme for BMTC pass holders on the anvil

Two boys kidnapped from Viveknagar

BMP won't pay for water supplied through public taps