Bengaluru (DHNS): Mayor B N Manjunatha Reddy on Monday emphasised on improving the financial condition of the BBMP and using information technology to bring in more transparency in its functioning.
In his maiden speech as Mayor in the Palike council after the newly elected body took over, he said environment, rainwater harvesting, development of parks and playgrounds will be the key areas he would focus on and accordingly, budgetary provisions will be made.
“The water table in the City is depleting rapidly, to stem which rainwater harvesting is a must. Jayanagar, Hanumanthanagar and Madivala show the way on how to tap rainwater to increase groundwater level,” said the Mayor.
Regarding revenue generation, the Mayor suggested the Palike officials to levy service tax on PG homes and service flats. He said a maintenance cess can be charged from owners of vacant sites as they become dumping places for garbage and a breeding place for mosquitoes and disease-causing insects. He asked them to mull over the poor tax collection, despite the growing number of houses in the City every year.“Henceforth, all properties in the City will be given GIS-based property identification numbers,” the Mayor said.
To curb buntings and posters dotting every nook and cranny, the Mayor directed the Palike officials to treat them as advertisements and collect charges accordingly from those who put them up.
Reddy asked the health officers to check the spread of dengue and chikungunya. He stressed on setting up more e-toilets in the City as they are more useful.
He mooted the idea of a blanket ban on plastic covers below 15 microns in thickness, so as to tackle the garbage menace. Along with it, he stressed on a total ban on filter sand for any constructions as it weakens structures and can cause fatalities.
