Govt decides to divide BBMP

The State Cabinet on Thursday decided to trifurcate Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. The process to finalise the draft report on delimitation of new wards will be taken up soon, the State government said. 

According to Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy, who is also in-charge of Bengaluru
urban district, the decision will lead to postponement of BBMP polls by at least three to four months.
The minister said: “We cannot delay the elections for long. Maybe it will be postponed by three to four months. An administrator will have to be appointed till the elections are held.”

The government is under pressure to inform the Karnataka High Court on preparations in place to hold BBMP council elections. The council’s term will end on April 22. Two corporators have approached the court seeking direction to the government to hold elections on time.

A committee headed by B S Patil, constituted to give recommendations regarding splitting the BBMP, has submitted its second interim report.

The panel has, however, favoured having smaller boroughs like those in London. Sources said no new areas will be added during the trifurcation process. The jurisdiction of three new corporations will be decided by the Urban Development Department (UDD).

Delhi example
Interestingly, the State government took a cue from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) which was trifurcated in 2012. But the MCD may soon be unified again to extricate it from financial troubles.

Asked when the government would notify the delimitation of wards and reservation of wards, Reddy said it would be done soon after a gazette notification is issued on trifurcation of the civic body.

Sources said the move to supersede BBMP was also discussed by the State Cabinet.
The UDD had issued a show cause notice to BBMP seeking an explanation on financial irregularities as pointed out by a committee headed by an IAS officer, Rajendra Kumar Kataria. Show cause notices have been issued to Mayor N Shanthakumari and corporators to which they have to reply before March 30. Sources said that the State government will wait for the reply before deciding on the next step.