Bengaluru, 18 Oct

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar suggested that the taxes collected under one corporation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) should be used for the same zone. 

“Setting up five new corporations is a historic decision,” he said on Saturday during the Bengaluru Nadige (Walk for Bengaluru) in the KR Puram area. “We are collecting taxes worth Rs 6,000 crore from the City, of which Bengaluru East has a share of Rs 1,600 crore. The taxes that the respective corporation collects must now be used in the same zone.”

“Bengaluru East corporation is a very resourceful corporation, and the proceeds will be used to fix the civic issues here. Earlier, the amount collected here was used in other parts of the City too. We have taken many steps to expedite works,” he said. “We have created a separate corporation to ensure that the tax collection from the specific area is spent on the same area.”

Noting the budget allocation, he said, “The Council of the corporation can spend up to Rs 10 crore without tenders and the Commissioner Rs 3 crore without tenders.”

Reacting to criticism about the condition of the City’s infrastructure and roads, he said the government would meet IT-BT companies next week to listen to their grievances. Prominent figures such as Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw have recently been publicly criticising the City’s infrastructure. 

“Next week, the IT Minister (Priyank Kharge) and I will hold separate meetings with IT-BT companies,” Shivakumar said. “Our work is the answer to those who criticise. We are focused on our work and are not bothered about unwarranted criticism.” 

“We’re also planning a comprehensive market redevelopment strategy,” he added.

Shivakumar said that many buildings in the KR Puram constituency will be demolished soon. 

“There are a lot of encroachment cases in the KR Puram area, and many illegal buildings have been constructed. As per the Supreme Court order, they will be demolished. We have exempted sites up to 30x40 from OC and CC, but we will not allow construction without setbacks,” he said.

He added that the KR Puram Santhe (fair) may be shifted soon, because it was causing traffic jams. 

He said that the government was envisioning transforming the KR Puram Market into a “model market”.

Shivakumar also instructed officials to take action against the KR Puram Revenue Officer for demanding a bribe to issue a khata.