The Hindu : Front Page : Cabinet decides to raise number of BBMP wards to 198 from 147

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Saturday, May 09, 2009
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Cabinet decides to raise number of BBMP wards to 198 from 147

Special Correspondent

Delimitation to be completed ahead of the polls likely in July

BANGALORE: The State Cabinet, which met here on Friday after two months owing to the enforcement of the model code of conduct during the general elections, discussed the elections to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council.

It decided to raise the number of wards to 198 from 147. The delimitation of the BBMP wards should be completed ahead of the polls.

The members of the Cabinet were said to be of the view that the elections should be held in another two months in accordance with the directions of the Karnataka High Court. While the population per ward was around 30,000, following the delimitation it would be reduced to around 20,000. The Cabinet also approved nominations (10 per cent) to the BBMP Council, although no decision was taken on direct election to the post of the Mayor (Mayor-in-Council with a fixed term of five years).

Ordinance

Briefing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Shobha Karandlaje, said the Government had decided to promulgate an Ordinance to amend the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act of 2000. The amendment Bill was placed before the Belgaum session of the Legislature. To give more teeth to the Organised Crimes Act, acts of terrorism will be brought under its purview, and the property of the accused will be confiscated.

The other new features of the Act include confiscation of property of the accused during the period of investigation, a fine of Rs. 5 lakh (hitherto it was Rs. 1 lakh), raising the time limit for filing charge sheet to 360 days from the existing 180 days and life imprisonment for those convicted.

The Minister said the Cabinet had approved amendments to the Karnataka Poison Act to prevent misuse of poisonous chemicals and to ensure proper enforcement of the Act and the prosecution of offenders.

The Act will now be enforced by the Revenue Department (particularly deputy commissioners and tahsildars). Hitherto, the Act was enforced by the Health Department which lacked powers to prosecute the accused. The changes have been brought about in the light of chemicals such as cyanide being used to kill people (murder) and acids being used to attack women.

Government land

The Cabinet decided to stop the sale of government land in Bangalore (prime property) with immediate effect. A high-level committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary will scrutinise applications seeking the sale of government land in Bangalore.

The Cabinet also approved Ordinances to form Karnataka Sanskrit and Veda University and another university for Music and Performing Arts in Mysore.

Ms. Shobha Karandlaje said the Cabinet approved the construction of a flyover at Padmanabhanagar in Bangalore (Rs. 32 crore) and an indoor basketball stadium at Malleswaram, Bangalore, (Rs. 7.21 crore). Work on these projects will commence shortly.

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