The circular issued two weeks ago stated that the Palike officials at the ward level, Joint Engineer or the Assistant Engineer should hold the Janaspandana programme on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
As per the new circular issued earlier this month, Janaspandana is scheduled between 9 am and 11 am, compulsorily in all the 198 wards.
The programme is a event that brings together the authorities and the citizens on the same platform to solve the civic issues at the ward level.
The programme, made mandatory during the coalition regime of the JD(S) and BJP, was being held at irregular intervals over the past four years.
“While a Government Order (GO) was issued during the coalition regime, it was never fully implemented at the ward level due to various reasons including laxity on part of some officials at the ward level,” a Palike official said.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike had earlier issued the same circular to all zonal offices and ward offices in 2009 to hold the same programme, but to no avail.
The Janaspandana has been informed to be held under the chairmanship of the local corporator.
The local ward level engineers, the revenue officer, the health officer and other officials will take part in the programme.
“It has also been stated that the JE or the AE has to invite the local BWSSB and BESCOM officials for delivering a solution for the people’s woes,” informed the official.
RWAs
Also ensuring that the local corporators are now kept in the loop over the expenditure incurred in the maintainance of the ward, the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and the ward level engineers have been asked to co-ordinate with the representatives, henceforth.
As per the directions issued earlier by the BBMP, the RWAs could spend Rs one lakh towards maintainance and emergency repairs in the wards.
“While the sanctioning authority is still the BBMP, we are now involving the corporators so as to not keep him in the dark over the expenditure,” said the official.
A new circular to this effect has also been sent to all zonal offices.