From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sept 12: Taking over from Manjunath Prasad as the new commissioner of Bruhat Bengaluru MahanagaraPalike (BBMP), B H Anil Kumar called upon contractors not to compromise on the quality of civic works undertaken by them, and leave a rich legacy of dynamic Bangalore to the future generations.

He was speaking at a function organised by BBMP Contractors Association to bid farewell to the outgoing BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad and to welcome the incumbent commissioner.

Kumar said Prasad as the BBMP Commissioner has laid a strong foundation by his service. "We have to build a new Bengaluru conducive to an efficient and systematic life for its citizens. The prestige of Bengaluru should be further enhanced," he said.

"We have to face the various issues in front of us and in this the contractors have a prominent role to play. When contractors maintain standards and execute quality the officials and people’s representative get praise from the citizens.We will ensure that the contractors face no hurdles in the execution of their work but at the same time they need to do quality work which becomes a legacy for the future generation,’’ he said.

Outgoing BBMP Commissioner and Principal Secretary to the Revenue Department Manjunath Prasad said during his tenure as the BBMP Commissioner for three years and four months, he has a good working relationship with contractors.

He said before he took charge as the BBMP Commissioner, the contractors would frequently go on protest but there were no such incidents during his tenure. The credit also goes to the efforts of those officials who worked with me, he said.

Prasad said many contractors have not received payment for periods ranging from two to three years for the work executed by them. After a discussion with the contractors and officials, payments were done every month, he said.

He said due to lack of financial discipline, BBMP faced several problems and to solve them he had proposed to the government for a new law and amendments which have been adopted a day prior to his transfer. By the implementation of the new rules there will be financial discipline in BBMP and ensure faster payment and more civic works to contractors, he added.

Prasad said contractors had contributed a lot in the development of Bengaluru. Basic amenities have to be accelerated as Bangalore is one of the fastest growing cities.

Ambikapathi, President, BBMP Contractors Association; G M Ravindra, General Secretary andKempanna, President of Karnataka Contractors Association and office-bearers of the association participated in the farewell function.