We are mighty impressed with some of the demands made by HSR resident activist Kavitha Reddy to the BBMP Commissioner for the forthcoming budget. If these suggestions are implemented, much of the garbage situation can be bettered. After much consultation with experts and regular citizens, Kavitha has formulated a list of demands for the BBMP to move forward in making Bangalore, a better place. From demanding a pet park in HSR to lake maintenance funds, sanitary napkin incineration centres to waste processing and leaf shredding units in every ward to silt traps in major stormwater drains (rajakaluves) and metered parking to decongest neighbourhood traffic, these suggestions are just what the city planner ordered.

Says Kavitha Reddy: “I believe that the corporation budget should not just be an account of income, expenditure and announcement of projects, it should set an agenda and vision for Bengaluru and should also indicate the long-term plans to make it a better city. I am using this opportunity to place a few demands and give inputs for BBMP Budget 2019, and hope they will be considered.”

Some of the demands are as follows:
1. BBMP should announce a Lake Maintenance Fund that is open to donations from not just the state and central government, but also corporates through includes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

To fix the sanitary waste disposal issue in government high schools and colleges in BBMP limits, BBMP should install Sanitary Napkin Incineration Units in every girls toilet.
De-silting and removal of floating Garbage in Rajakaluves has not seen any innovation as random machines are used to do a shabby job. BBMP should therefore invest in building heavy duty Silt Traps and Trash Traps at regular intervals in Rajakaluves.
Citizens who own pets have a long-standing demand for Pet Parks, and BBMP should allocate funds for an exclusive Pet Park in HSR Layout.
BBMP should set up Ward Waste Processing Units with technology interventions for Composting, Bio-Gas, Incineration and Waste-to-Energy as suited for the Ward in addition to the Dry Waste Collection Centre, and it should be operated in PPP model for better results and accountability at the ward level.
BBMP should set up Dry Leaves Shredding and Processing Center in every two wards or based on the volumes, and contracts of these centers should be given to qualified entrepreneurs or Self Help Groups, and not garbage contractors who have ruined the city in many ways.
BBMP can maximize its revenues and also decongest roads during peak time traffic if they make Paid Parking mandatory for all non-residential and commercial roads.
Even after the highest court of the country ruled in favor of Street Vendor Bill 2014, the implementation of ID cards to the Street Vendors is random. I request BBMP to make budgetary allocation to set up TVCs, Survey & issue ID Cards and provide basic facilities where Street Vendors can do business with dignity.

The likelihood of Kavitha’s suggestions being met more positively is high as she is also a Nadaprabhu Kempegowda awardee, a member of the All India Congress Committee and the spokesperson of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

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