Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been directed by the Karnataka High Court on Monday February 7 to file an explanation on the status of automatic pothole-filling machines.
After the counsel informed the court that the existing contract given to a private agency had expired on January 3, 2022, a division bench led by Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi asked the BBMP to explain the arrangements made.
Senior advocate S. R. Anuradha, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that nine people have died in accidents caused by potholes in the last ten days.
She mentioned an accident in which a young mother succumbed to injuries.
Despite the PIL having been heard for the past five years, the bench observed orally that the civic agency has not shown any efficiency.
‘We cannot let the people die like this. On the highway, a young mother died. What could be more pathetic? We will not spare anyone for the poor quality of work and highhandedness,” the judge said and asked why no FIRs could be filed against the engineers who were responsible for the poor quality of work and highhandedness.
During the hearing, the court was informed that the automatic pothole-filling machines were currently not working.
The bench questioned why no preparations had been made in advance and why they needed more time to float a tender for the machines they required.
“They (BBMP) must also explain why the contract with that agency, which previously provided automatic pothole-filling devices, cannot be renewed if there has been no complaint about their work and quality. The BBMP must also submit a technology plan that includes cutting machines, automatic pothole-filling machines, or the hot mix method for filling potholes, as well as a strategy for repairing the roads,” the bench added.
The hearing was adjourned for a week and the BBMP’s engineer-in-chief was instructed to be present on the next date.
