BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) requires not less than Rs 8,000 crore exclusively to provide Storm Water Drains (SWD) in all existing and new layouts in Bangalore City.However, the BBMP has so far not calculated the amount to provide other basic amenities to its citizens. It plans to prepare a vision document for the next 10-15 years keeping in view developments which are taking place in the city. A professor from the Indian Institute of Management has volunteered to undertake a detailed study on financial and administration matters. This well-researched document is certainly going to help the BBMP authorities to seek financial assistance from the international finance agencies for any projects in future.An officer told Express that the city has got Rs 925 crore (old estimate Rs 643 crore) under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (jnNURM) scheme to provide storm water drains in select places in the city. This money is just like a drop of water in ocean. If all the existing and new layouts are to be provided with Storm Water Drains , the BBMP requires not less than `8,000 crore. In fact, a master plan on Storm Water Drains is in final stages and it will be implemented after Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) gives its concurrence.The burgeoning population has put a lot of pressure on the BBMP in providing basic amenities to citizens. Lack of preparedness is definitely going to pose many problems in the coming years. High land lost and numerous conditions put by the Central Government while sanctioning funds under jnNURM has delayed completion of many SWR projects in the city. The urban local body should be given a free hand to make deviations and change plans according to local standards. “The centre needs to have a holistic approach on certain projects. Dictating terms will only hamper smooth progress and delay completion of projects on time.”Giving a classic example, the officer said the BBMP has taken up SWD project near Kendriya Sadan on Hosur Road. The cost of the project is around Rs 10 crore. The BBMP wants to acquire some land near the spot for widening service road and the Palike has to shell out Rs 12 crore to purchase that land. That means the land acquisition cost is more than the project cost. In fact, the cost of land acquisition is not all included in project cost submitted to the Union Government to seek funds under the jnNURM scheme. The BBMP bears expenditure incurred on works taken up either by BBMP, BESCOM or BWS&SB. Even in Chennai and Hyderabad, the SWD works are hindered due to encroachment by the Union Government.When contacted, K R Niranjan, special commissioner, BBMP said that as financier, the Government of India has set thumb rule that is applicable for all the cities which are being benefited from jnNURM scheme. While 35 per cent of money is given by the Centre, 15 per cent is from the State Government and the rest is mobilised by BBMP. Recently, the Centre has approved the revised proposal for Rs 925 crore to take up SWD projects in some parts of the city.
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