All for Kalam, BBMP logs in extra hour

Bengaluru: To honour the wishes of former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, BBMP Administrator T.M. Vijay Bhaskar directed all the BBMP employees to work an hour extra on Tuesday.

The famed scientist was popular for his motivational quotes and speeches. During an occasion he had said, “Don’t declare holiday on my death. Instead work an extra day, if you love me.” The Central and state governments too did not declare a national holiday on Tuesday, as per his wishes. Hundreds of BBMP employees showed their support to the cause and logged in an extra hour in all the BBMP offices.

Palike diktat

Vijay Bhaskar also directed all the government agencies, which have not paid rent for their shops and offices in BBMP buildings, to immediately clear the dues. In a meeting with the officials of railways, police, RTO, BSNL, fisheries and other departments, the administrator told them that altogether these agencies owed Rs 18 crore rent to BBMP. The civic body has rented out 6,000 shops and offices to 25 different departments.

However, despite many notices, none of these departments have responded. Bhaskar directed the BBMP officials to issue a final notice and seal the buildings which did not clear the pending rent.

During the occasion, BBMP commissioner G.Kumar Naik instructed the BBMP officials to issue notices to all the departments within a week. “If BBMP officials don’t act quickly and collect the target revenue, stern action will be taken,” Mr Naik warned.