We failed to control garbage mafia in Bengaluru: DKS

After declaring a few months ago that “even God cannot fix Bengaluru roads”, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, told the Legislative Assembly on Friday that the State government have failed to control the garbage mafia in the city.

BJP too failed

“The BJP failed. We too failed to control the garbage mafia in Bengaluru city,” he said, in a reply to the debate on the development in Bengaluru during the government’s 27-month rule. Tenders have been called in packages in each Assembly constituency in the city to dispose of garbage, he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister said four locations in different parts of the city have been identified for the disposal of waste. He, along with officials, visited Delhi, Chennai, and Hyderabad to study waste disposal management. We did not go to Indore, which was declared as the cleanest city in the country, Mr. Shivakumar said.

Filling potholes

On development of roads in the city, he said ₹9,200 crore would be spent on filling potholes, white-topping, LED lights, and other works. Already 5,377 potholes were filled, and another 5,000 would be filled soon. The police have been told to list the number of potholes in their police station limits. The public was also told to send videos of potholes, Mr. Shivakumar said.

Many low-lying areas would get flooded in the city during the monsoon. It was decided to evacuate those residing in low-lying areas by providing them compensation, and roads would be widened in those areas by investing ₹3,000 crore, the Deputy Chief Minister said.

A World Bank (₹2,000 crore) would be utilized to avoid flooding during the monsoon by developing storm water drains. The Chief Minister would convene a meeting of road development in Bengaluru on Monday or Tuesday, he said.

Double-decker

On the lines of a double-decker flyover in Nagpur, he said a plan has been prepared to develop a 44-km double-decker flyover in the city at a cost of ₹9,000 crore. It would comprise a road on the ground, a flyover, and a metro train line at the topmost level. This would ease traffic congestion and travel time, he said.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the 5.6 km double-decker in Nagpur in 2024.

He said a plan was also prepared to develop 109 km of elevated road at a cost of ₹13,000 crore. The sixth stage of the Cauvery water supply plan would be implemented at a cost of ₹6,000 crore to cater to the drinking water needs of residents of 110 villages added to the city.

E-khatas to 7.2 lakh households

Mr Shivakumar said e-khata would eliminate fraud in property transactions and ensure tax compliance. E-khatas have been issued to 7.2 lakh households already. It was decided to issue ‘A’ khatas to 7.5 lakh households now having ‘B’ khatas, he said.