The proposal to restructure Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has got a mixed response. While those from the Congress welcomed the “warranted and required” restructuring, those from the BJP termed it “unnecessary”.
The three-member committee formed to look into BBMP’s restructuring has sought six months’ time to conduct wider consultations.
Though sources in the committee conceded that there seems to be an overwhelming view in favour of multiple structures, the BJP-ruled BBMP recently passed a resolution opposing the proposed split.
Congress councillor from Jayamahal M.K. Gunasekhar, who is also member of the committee formed by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee to look into the restructuring, told The Hindu that the council’s resolution could be vetoed by the government, which has the authority to do so under the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976. Stressing the need for a separate legislation for Bengaluru, he said the bifurcation or trifurcation will help improve administration. “Currently, administration has become unwieldy. After BBMP is split, proper attention can be given to resource mobilisation and financial management,” he said.
Politically motivatedHowever, BJP councillors the former Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana and ruling party leader N.R. Ramesh claimed that administration can be improved by decentralising power and empowering BBMP’s eight zones.
Mr. Ramesh termed the decision to split the civic body as being politically motivated and alleged that it was unscientific. “For instance, the Kannadiga population in east Bangalore is just around 15 per cent. Culturally and linguistically, that area will be cut off if it is to become a separate corporation,” he said.
Meanwhile, civic expert Ashwin Mahesh questioned the reasons behind the committee submitting the “non-specific” report. He suggested that the city (BDA area of 1,200 sqkm) should be divided into nine to 12 corporations. London, with an area of 1,350 sqkm, has 33 boroughs and this could be a model for the city, he added.
