Lapses in collection of garbage, poor condition of pavements, non-functional street lights, installation of CCTV cameras, drug peddling near schools and colleges dominated the discussions at ward committee meetings across the city on Saturday.
Officials from BBMP, BWSSB, Bescom, traffic police and other civic agencies participated in the meetings. This is the second time that the meetings were convened.
Citizens for Benglauru (CfB), in a statement, said that its volunteers participated in meetings that were held in more than 30 wards.
Recently, Mayor Gangambike had directed all councillors to hold the ward committee meeting on the first Saturday of every month. In December, meetings were held in 68 of the total 198 wards. The number of wards holding a meeting is likely to increase in the coming months.
Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun held a meeting in Jayanagar ward where about 100 people participated.
Shipa Rao a resident of Jayanagar ward and co-ordinator of CfB, said, “Drug peddling near schools and colleges was discussed at length during the meeting. People demanded increased vigilance and installation of CCTV cameras as a means to combat the menace. Non-segregation of garbage at source also came up for discussion. Participants urged the Mayor to identify the areas where people fail to segregate waste and initiate an awareness programme there.”
Basavaraj Mudigoudar, who attended the meeting in Hoysala Nagar ward, said that illegally operating commercial establishments in residential areas and poor parking facilities were discussed. “In our ward committee, close to 30 residents participated. Ward committees will serve their purpose better with greater attendance by residents to raise their grievances. Nothing happens by sitting at home and complaining,” he said.