If I were CM...
Arundathi Nag, Theatreperson

if i were cm, i would like to maintain bangalore as the blueprint for the rest of the state. what i mean is that i would not work on bangalore alone, but use the same methods to improve other districts in the state. you will see what i mean if you see the sanitation in gulbarga or bijapur. there are pigs around the gol gumbaz; it is unbelievable that all these are part of the same state.i would like to make the people of karnataka be proud of their state. i mean they are such nice people, they are not bullies, they are soft. but i would like them to be proud of their state. i would like to see the batf become a template that can be duplicated in other districts too, and do it quick. that is, have a smaller component at the district levels. i would build a centre like the habitat centre in delhi to showcase culture. i would build a lot of theatres all over karnataka, and not like those the government has built. after all, a part of the taxpayers' money goes towards the cultural development of the state. the theatres will be well-designed and well-equipped, not like the ambedkar bhavan, a glaring example of bad design if you sit in the balcony, you can't see the stage. i would pay more attention to education. i would insist on yoga in schools instead of 1, 2, 3, 4 pt exercises. we have such a fantastic system of old knowledge that belongs to this soil. why not use that? i would definitely impose a ban on the use of plastic bags. i would spay all the dogs in the city, and make sure there is no garbage, because where there is garbage, there are dogs. i would deal with corruption with a firm hand. the public too should not give bribes. but as cm, i would build in safeguards into the system to prevent corruption. people too should become less afraid of fighting the system. i wouldn't be corrupt i would not take money for the work i am supposed to do. i would ensure there is no smoke pollution. i would also ensure that there is no noise pollution, otherwise we are sure to end up with a generation of deaf children. somehow, noise pollution has always been swept under the carpet. i would insist on rain water harvesting as a campaign and not a sporadic activity. i would have an underground railway system in place. this does not ruin the surface of the city. it may be three times costlier than the elrts, but it is a long term investment which will work. look at the underground in london. it's 70 years old, and still going strong. i would have a circular underground railway grid which connects the north, south, east and west of the city. there is wisdom in an underground railway. and i wouldn't be the cm of bangalore alone. i would see that whatever good happens in bangalore will also be transferred to all the districts in the state. (as told to geetha rao)