Karnataka: Indira Canteen project on low boil

Bengaluru: The pace of construction of state government's ambitious Indira canteens is very slow and Mayor G Padmavathi has blamed it on lack of cooperation from corporators, belonging to non-Congress parties.  

Of the 198 Indira Canteens, which were promised to be thrown open on August 15, BBMP after a review meeting, headed by Bengaluru development minister K J George, said that only 125 will be operational by the said time.

Even though the civic body is struggling to get at least 125 canteens open to provide food at subsidised rates on independence day, it has a long way to go as in many wards identifying the right place for setting up the canteen is proving to be a Herculean task.

Of the 125 canteens promised to be open by Independence Day, till Wednesday only 38 wards are physically ready. When asked what will happen to the rest, Padmavathi said, "Works are half completed in 67 wards. It will be finished in another few days."

Even if it is assumed that works will be totally completed in 67 wards, total number of canteens fully ready to function on August 15 will be only 105, reducing the promised number by 20.

BBMP Mayor accused corporators belonging to other political parties of not cooperating in finding the right place for the canteen. Even if the right place is found, they try to raise one or the other issue.

Citing the example of razing down of Murphy town market for the canteen, the Mayor said, "The market was in a dilapidated condition and had become a hub of anti-social activities be it drinking or drugs. And when we razed it for a good cause, other party political workers are finding fault."

She went on to say that the opposition parties are jealous of the fact that the project will be accepted by a larger part of the society. She was confident that people will question their respective corporators if Indira canteen isn't being built in their wards, after they open in other wards.

Canteen to occupy church land
 The canteen project has been in the news for wrong reason for issues such as encroaching into parks, playgrouds, temples and the latest one is about takeover of a portion of church land, owned by St Mary's Prayers Association Charitable Trust at L.R. Nagar, Vivek Nagar. The BBMP officials could not find a suitable place in Neelasandra ward and have planned to occupy church land. Initially it was rumoured that the whole church, which is sitting on a 30x30 square feet site and operational for over 30 years, would be demolished. But later officials found a place next to the church to build the canteen and only a portion of the church measuring about five feet is being sought by the officials for the canteen.