Unwieldy BBMP to be split into 2 or 3 units?
The state government has finally seen the logic of “small is efficient”.
The unwieldy Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), with an 850-sq km jurisdiction, is all set to be divided into two to three corporations.
The idea behind this is better management of affairs and addressing citizens’ problems effectively.
“A committee of experts in urban affairs and select commissioners who had worked in BBMP would be constituted to work out the details of splitting the corporation,’’ said Minister for Transport and In-charge for Bangalore, R Ramalinga Reddy.
He told Express, “Already, a proposal to this effect has been sent to principal secretary, Department of Urban Development. We will take up the matter with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who looks after development of Bangalore city.’’
The plan is to divide BBMP into two or three corporations.
“It is the need of the hour as the city has grown beyond anybody’s expectations and one commissioner cannot manage a jurisdiction of 850 sq km. New layouts have come up in all directions,’’ he contended.
“Once the BBMP is divided, there will be two to three mayors and equal number of commissioners. At present, there are 198 wards. Additional wards will be brought under the corporation limits thanks to the growth of city on the Electronics City side,’’ he contended.
The division will be done in a systematic manner as revenue is also very important, he said. ‘’Once the tenure of the present elected body ends in one-and-a-half years, we will go for division and addition of new wards,’’ he added.
The proposal to split BBMP into two corporations was mooted by M K Shankarlinge Gowda while he was the commissioner of BBMP. While one corporation may consist of wards in Bangalore East and Bangalore North; another corporation may comprise Bangalore South and Bangalore West.
This proposal seeks to ensure proper division of administration and equitable distribution of revenue. The plan is to divide the city equally into 99 wards each.
Reddy said infrastructure had to be kept in mind while splitting the BBMP and pointed to the example of the Delhi Municipal Corporation, which was divided into three corporations long ago.
“The government will study recommendations of the experts’ panel and then place it before the State Cabinet for its approval. The division is certain but we want to do it systematically,’’ Reddy said.