ULBs must focus on resource mobilisation to improve civic amenities: H.C. Balakrishna

Municipal Administration Minister H.C. Balakrishna emphasized on Monday that urban local bodies (ULBs) must prioritize resource mobilization to enhance the provision of basic amenities such as drinking water, roads, drainage, and street lighting. Leading a review meeting on the performance of ULBs in Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, and Kodagu districts at the Regional Commissioner's office, Balakrishna asserted that ensuring basic infrastructure in urban areas is the department's responsibility.

He stressed that resources are crucial for administration, with Union and State governments providing funds, but local bodies should focus on timely tax collection from local properties and services. Balakrishna directed Deputy Commissioners to assign engineers from the Public Works Department to vacant engineering posts in ULBs.

He stressed that ULB budgets should not be mere formalities but based on systematic tax collection and realistic revenue projections. Around 30% of funds for ULBs came from Union and State government grants. Balakrishna ordered officials to launch a special drive to clear encroachments on ULB properties, stating that there would be "no compromise" on the removal of encroachments.

For waste management, he mentioned that several companies had offered to collect waste within ULB limits and produce biogas, and the department would hold discussions with these companies to enter into agreements. Animal Husbandry and Sericulture Minister C. Puttarangashetty suggested establishing cremation burning units in Chamarajanagar district ULB areas.

He also pointed out that private individuals had encroached on several ULB properties and that many such cases were pending in courts. Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna, through videoconference, mentioned that drinking water pipeline works under AMRUT 2.0 in Virajpet were still incomplete, and household tap connections had not been provided.

Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda highlighted the shortage of engineers in ULBs and the issue of around 1,000 undeveloped private layouts near Mysuru, which made it difficult to provide basic amenities. Hunsur MLA G.D. Harish Gowda said sewage from Hunsur was flowing into the Lakshmanathirtha river, polluting it, with an estimated ₹72 crore needed to prevent this.

Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda emphasized the delay in providing household tap connections under AMRUT 2.0 and the need for retaining walls due to landslides in Madikeri, as well as the lack of a waste dumping site. K.R. Nagar MLA D. Ravishankar said underground drainage works in parts of K.R. Nagar remained incomplete. Director of the Directorate of Municipal Administration P.S.

Ravindra advised that Union and State government grants should be utilized within the stipulated time, as extending them to the next financial year would increase the applicable SR rates. The ULBs, additional officials, and MLAs attended the meeting.