New plan for cleanliness in city, fresh ad policy by month-end: Deputy CM Shivakumar

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is pushing the Brand Bengaluru hard, on Saturday announced that new measures will be brought in place to ensure cleanliness in the city by the end of this month. He, however, refused to elaborate.

Speaking to the media after holding a meeting with representatives of citizens’ groups and resident welfare associations at Vidhana Soudha, the Deputy CM said footpaths will be cleared of encroachments as they lead to accidents and separate arrangements will be made for vendors. A new advertising policy will also be formulated after consultations and will be implemented by the month-end, he said.

On the issue of potholed roads, Shivakumar said he will hold a meeting with traffic experts after the budget session of the legislature. Retired officials will also be consulted on dealing with potholes, he added.

“I have earlier held meetings with noted personalities, big corporates and MPs while about 30,000 citizens have also given their opinions on the Brand Bengaluru dashboard. I had sought opinions on a few issues like traffic, lakes, laying of optical fibre, etc and citizens feel that their problems should be tackled at the ward level”, he noted.

“There were also suggestions on parking, footpath encroachment, dumping of garbage while some had suggested that the opinions of children should also be heard. A debate will be held for high school and college students”, he said.

The Deputy CM said plans are afoot to digitise all property documents and deliver them to the doorsteps. “We will map all those who haven’t paid property taxes and take legal measures to recover the dues”, he said.

BBMP chief commissioner Tushar Giri Nath and all zonal commissioners were present.