Park inspection: Mayor finds saplings bought for Rs 2,500 each

Mayor G Padmavathi made a surprise inspection of parks on Monday following complaints from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) councillors and citizens over their poor maintenance.

Saplings bought at a whopping Rs 2,500 each and additional amount spent for planting them were among the instances of wasteful expenditure that came to the notice of the mayor.

At Nandanavana Park, Basavanna Park and a park opposite Gayatri Hospital at Agrahara Dasarahalli, Padmavathi learnt that each sapling was bought for Rs 2,500 and an additional amount was spent for planting them.

"The Horticulture department officials and contractor Ravi Prakash from KRIDL are involved in these illegalities. An enquiry needs to be conducted immediately. An estimate listing out activities undertaken at these three parks along with tenders floated, technical details and related information need to be prepared and submitted,” the mayor told Special Commissioner (Horticulture), S G Raveendra. 

Action plan
Padmavathi also visited a few parks at Kaveripura (Ward 103) and came across unnecessary works like installation of grills around the parks and incomplete development works. She directed the officers concerned to prepare an action plan listing out works undertaken so far at the parks in Ward 103.