BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana has advised councillors and officials against taking up unnecessary civic works.
After issuing work orders for 1,367 ward works on Monday, he said councillors, contractors and officials know the financial status of the BBMP.
“I keep stressing on taking up necessary works on a priority basis. This holds good for councillors too. They are public servants and should be role models,” he said. He told councillors and officials that people are watching them. “If you get a bad name, it will stay with you forever. You have to grow in your political career from being a councillor to becoming an MLA,” he said. He asked officials to not take up any works that will get them a bad name and make sure that the works they take up is really necessary.
Lakshminarayana warned the officials that those taking up unnecessary works or indulging in irregularities would be suspended on the spot. Before a tainted official reaches office, the suspension order will be ready. He added that he would not bow down to any pressure on the matter. He said a circular would be issued in this regard.
“We shall suspend tainted BBMP officials, and if they are on deputation, we shall write to the concerned department to suspend them,” he said. A departmental inquiry will be initiated if irregularities are suspected, he added.
Mayor B S Sathyanarayana directed contractors, who have received work orders, to start work from Monday and complete them on time.
Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Ward Works A H Basavaraju urged the contractors to take up curing concrete.
Latest Orders Flayed
Of the 1,367 works for which work orders were issued on Monday, some were unnecessary, sources said.
They said works like replacing cobblestones with tiles on footpaths and asphalting good roads were unnecessary. “Why does BBMP need to take up such unnecessary works when it is facing a financial crisis?” a source asked.
“There is a proposal to develop a hi-tech playground inside a garden at an estimated cost of `25 lakh. When storm water drains and roads are in bad condition and many people lack basic amenities, what is the need to take up such works?” an official asked.