When BBMP candidates from Uttarahalli ward met people

Namma Bengaluru Foundation organised a meet up of BBMP candidates, to understand their perspective on problems of people. This what transpired there.

Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) conducted a ward level debate at Uttarahalli on August 12th. It was the first in a series of eight debates conducted by NBF. Four candidates were invited, three of them attended the debate. Moderators asked questions to all three candidates and then opened the floor for public comments and questions.

Candidates

  • BJP: Hanumanthaiah
  • Congress:  Varaprasad Reddy
  • JDS: R D Usha Rani

Voter attendance: Approximately 200

Venue: Shanthi Sagar Party Hall, #25, Subramanyapura Main Road, Uttarahalli, Bangalore – 560061

Moderators: Sridhar Pabbisetty and Prakash Belawadi

What changes can we see in the next five years?

BJP

    • Cauvery water facility to all
    • Scientific waste management system
    • Indoor Stadium: Shuttle and games
    • Traffic issue: Fly over, Uttarahalli to Banashankari
    • Health/Yoga centres
    • Playground and facilities for children

Congress

    • Common amenities
    • Water, road, sanitary
    • Cauvery water supply

JDS

    • Water issues
    • Light
    • Garbage
    • Sanitary
    • Protection for women

With a loan burden of  9K to 11k crore, where will we get the required funds for BBMP and ward?

BJP: Development is happening despite this. The loans are from a long time. Developers breaking rules will be fined and the fine collected to be used for development. 10 to 15 crore can be collected from developers.

Congress: We can collect more than 200 crores once Akrama Sakrama comes into force. There are illegal layouts. Akrama sakrama rules when it comes. (The moderator pointed that the Akrama Sakrama has been challenged in the high court.)

JDS: Use funds collected from the State Government.

(For INC) More solutions are available now that no one is looking at it. Everyone is looking at Akrama Sakrama. Congress manifesto proposes to reduce penalty on property tax from 24% to 5%.

INC: When you reduce it people will come forward and pay the property tax. Poorer class can not pay the property tax and with the reduction everyone will pay it then.)

Should the BBMP be split?

BJP: No

Congress: Yes

JDS: Yes

BBMP restructuring  committee gives more powers to CM on Bengaluru affairs. Is this good or bad?

BJP: Bad

Congress: Good

JDS: Not sure

Ward money goes to the BBMP.  Would you like a percentage of funds to devolved back to your ward?

BJP: Yes

Congress: Yes

JDS: Yes

No footpaths in your ward. What is the reason for this?

Congress: Due to increased vehicle capacity and road widening, footpath space has reduced.

BJP: Lack of planning. The space for the road needed to be increased with enough space for footpath.

JDS: We need to widen footpaths.

Is it good to bring Akrama Sakrama scheme?

BJP: Yes

Congress: Yes

JDS: Yes

Can we trust the BBMP officials to implement Akrama Sakrama  or should it be an independent committee?

BJP: BBMP

Congress: Independent committee

With Rs 8,000 as the remuneration, how do BBMP corporators lead such a lifestyle?

BJP: None of the representatives are depending on the income from BBMP.

Congress: No one is getting into politics for making money. I have grown in this area and want to work for it.

JDS: I am not becoming a corporator to make money.

How will you stay in touch with your voters?

BJP: I have dedicated myself to community service. I will meet them at least once a month.

Congress: Whenever they inform, I will meet with them and try to solve their issues.

JDS: I will work as much as possible. Whenever they call we will go and meet them.

How will you utilise the money that comes to the ward? Are you ready to share financial details? Are your ready to form a ward committee?

All three candidates said they would set up a transparent ward committee to spend the money.

BJP: We will bring the required officials and get the necessary work done. Every layout will get a representation in the ward committee.

Congress: We will show the details with the voters. (Same as above)

JDS: We will get everyone together and use funds for what is required for the ward.

Additional questions/concerns from the audience

  • No roads in Bangarappa layout
  • Cauvery water in some places but not all.
  • Increase in mutton shops and liquor shops.
  • How are candidates spending so much money when their income is going to be only Rs 8,000?
  • No one comes and checks in the layouts (Vaishnavi layout), candidates come only during elections. Representatives need to come  on a monthly basis.
  • BJP has been in power for 20 years, where is the money going?

Sridhar Pabbisetty concluded the debate by saying: “Your power is in the ballot and need to increase voting percentages and elect a right representative.”

Disclaimer: This is an edited version of the minutes of the meeting sent by NBF. Citizen Matters’ staff were not present during the debate.

Related Articles

Shettihalli ward voters get to meet BBMP candidates
All you need to know about Ward 184 – Uttarahalli

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Similar Story

MLA workload increased 50% after delayed BMC elections: Three-time MLA, candidate Amin Patel

Contesting for a fourth term, top-ranked MLA Amin Patel speaks about his performance, challenges and promises ahead of assembly elections.

Amin Patel is a top-ranked MLA, representing the Mumbadevi assembly constituency, according to the report card brought out by Praja Foundation, an NGO that works on civic issues. Mumbadevi is one of the oldest and most diverse areas of Mumbai, where the incumbent Patel (Indian National Congress) has served for three consecutive terms. The area comprises Grant Road, Girgaum, Dongri, Tardeo, Umarkhadi, Bhuleshwar and Nagpada.  Maharashtra is all set to vote on November 20th in the Assembly elections. The state has 288 assembly seats and of these 36 are in Mumbai. Though the number is small, Mumbai remains significant as…

Similar Story

Mumbai: Who gets to be ‘Ladki Bahin’ and who gets left behind?

Without documents like ration cards and Aadhaar cards, marginalised communities in Thane fail to access schemes meant for them.

“Are we not 'ladki bahins' too?” wonder some women from migrant families of Chinchpada, Airoli in Thane. When the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana was launched, these low-income families hoped to benefit from the scheme, which promises women a monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 if their family’s annual income does not exceed Rs 2,50,000. This initiative seems like it would offer some relief to low-income migrant worker families in Chinchpada. However, it raises the question: who qualifies as a 'Ladki Bahin' (ladki bahin means dear sister)? A key barrier is the lack of essential documentation, such as Aadhaar cards,…