City Pulse

The BTM Layout (ward 176) Ward Sabha held on October 10 at Indian Water Works Association hall had over 50 residents from seven Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) highlighting the need for development works in order to make the ward better. 

Most of the residents demanded that storm water drains in the ward need to be desilted to enable rainwater flow and put an end to waterlogging issues. Responding to this, Ward Councillor Mr. K Devadas said that desilting work is in progress in SFHS Layout and is likely to be completed by October end. He also informed that, tender is in progress for the desilting and repair of storm water drains in 7^th Cross BTM 2^nd stage and Spandana Layout which is likely to be completed by mid-December. 

Irregular supply of electricity was another major woe of residents. Responding to this, BESCOM Assistant Executive Engineer Mr. Manoj Kumar assured that the old transformer will be replaced by the end of November. The power cuts are due to load shedding. Power supply will be regular from mid- November, he said. 

On a query on installation of surveillance cameras to make the ward safe and also on installing signage indicating street names, the Councillor said that the proposal has already been submitted in 2017-18 budget and is awaiting approval.

There is no government land available to construct dry waste collection centre and community hall. New bus shelters will be constructed after the metro work is complete, said the Councillor.

The residents of MICO Employees Housing Society proposed the need to construct skywalks and subways in BTM Layout, JP Nagar- Bannerghatta Road, Silk Board Road, Mico Layout and BTM 2^nd Stage. The Councillor assured that skywalks will be proposed in the upcoming 2018-19 budget.

Streetlights which are not working in Kuvempu Nagar and SFHS Layout will be repaired by October end. The proposal for installation of new streetlights in Spandana Layout is yet to get approved. After the budget is released, new LED streetlights will be installed. The work is likely to happen by end of December, assured the Councillor.

Police Inspector Mr. Ravi Kumar said that traffic lights on 13^th Main and 7^th Cross of BTM Layout will be repaired by October end.

Repair of footpaths, maintenance of parks and playgrounds, construction of public toilets, maintenance and repair of sewage lines, fogging and pest control were other issues which got discussed in the Ward Sabha.

Members who attended the Ward Sabha

Engineers of different levels from BBMP, BESCOM, BWSSB, Police officials from BCP and BTP attended the meeting.

Members from several Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) such BTM Welfare Association, BTM Vinayaka Charitable Trust, BTM Kuvempu Nagarika Vedike, MICO Housing Building Sahakara Sangha, Gelathi Sangha, BTM Layout RWA and Ram Sridhar Owner’s and Residents Welfare Association were present.

The Ward Sabha was run with presentation of data on budgets, status of projects along with information on grants, tender and work order status. The minutes of the Ward Sabha will provide details of the projects discussed and contact information of all officials. 

The Ward Sabha ended with the agreement that a follow up meeting will be held after three months to review the work status.

About BTM Layout Ward

The BTM Layout ward comes under BTM Layout assembly constituency which is headed by MLA Ramalinga Reddy. The ward consists of over 14,000 households and over 52,000 population.

The ward was allocated a budget of Rs 12.36 crore in 2016-17 and 2017-18 budget. Out of this budget, Rs 5.2 crore has been spent for 18 development works, Rs 1.47 crore has been allotted for 7 pending works and Rs 5.68 crore is assigned for 7 spillover works.

The citizen inputs collected by MyCityMyBudget campaign had received maximum demand from citizens to improve roads and footpaths in the ward.