The standing committee on horticulture of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will undertake an inspection every Friday. This Friday, the 11-member committee intended to inspect four lakes in the Nayandahalli, Deepanjali Nagar and Hosakerehalli areas.
The time for the team to leave the BBMP headquarters was 10.30 am. No member was in sight until 11, and the chairman of the committee, K Ranganna, came rushing in at 11.40 am. He had been ‘meeting’ a minister. With time short and the heat severe, plans were altered. Instead of four, the committee would visit two lakes.
There was obviously little preparation. Corporators of areas concerned were not
informed. The personal secretary of the chairman made frantic calls, found out the relevant numbers, and informed the corporators in the nick
of time.
The vehicle with the media people and standing committee members took a detour into Byatarayanapura. Former deputy mayor Lakshminarayana had invited chairman Ranganna for coffee, and would not take ‘no’ for an answer. The vehicle made its way to the stubborn friend’s house. Standing committee members disappeared into the residence for half an hour. By 12.30 pm, the committee was ready to set out on inspection.
Most committee members went along, like it was a picnic. They were happy to be photographed and make hackneyed comments into TV cameras. “We will take action immediately. We will have a meeting with the mayor.” Asked about previous visits, the chairman responded, “We are yet to start work. We are yet to meet the mayor for that.”
The inspections end with a lavish lunch at a restaurant. Who foots the bill? Who pays for the trip? Those questions were left unasked.
