Though the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has returned to power in the BBMP council, tough challenges await the party as its team is made of predominantly first-time winners.
Priority among the challenges before the new council would be ensuring complete processing of garbage dumped at landfills and checking the dengue menace. Though the previous council made it mandatory to segregate waste at source, it failed to implement the policy on the ground. The major challenge before the new council would be making segregation at source mandatory.
People in the outer zones — that were added to the civic body to form the BBMP in 2007 — are upset over the lack of even basic infrastructure in these areas. Many of these areas, including Whitefield, have not even got sewer lines and water supply lines yet. The previous BBMP council had earmarked Rs. 3 crore for the new wards every year, which has essentially proved insufficient. The new council needs to look for funds to concentrate more on providing infrastructure in these areas.
The other major challenge before the new council is to expand the revenue base of the BBMP. The BBMP Administrator has written to the State government to revise the property tax slabs. Experts have identified large holes in property tax collection, which, if fixed, is expected to shoot up the BBMP’s revenue. There are reports pending on streamlining advertising in the city, which is also expected to bring in revenue of around Rs. 800 crore annually.
The State government has announced Rs. 2,500 crore for roadworks alone, which the council needs to utilise effectively and improve the road network in the city. Widening of 216 roads is still pending even four years after being proposed.
High on agenda of the new council
--> Making segregation of waste at source work on the ground
--> Providing infrastructure in the outer zones that were added to form the BBMP in 2007
--> Expanding the revenue base of the BBMP
--> Giving fillip to road infrastructure in the city
