The Bill was tabled in the Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, which proposes up to seven municipal corporations in the city, was passed in the Assembly on Monday even as the Opposition BJP walked out in protest, describing the legislation as a “death knell”.
Apart from enabling the creation of up to seven municipalities, the Bill proposes a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), headed by the chief minister, which will have administrative and planning powers over the city.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said the Bill is against the 74th Amendment of the Constitution and pointed out that power will be concentrated with the chief minister and not elected councils. He urged Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to drop the Bill.
“Being the son of Kempegowda, Shivakumar is out to break Bengaluru,” Ashoka said. Shivakumar’s father shares his name with 16th century chieftain Kempegowda who founded Bengaluru.
Ashoka warned that non-Kannadigas would end up becoming mayors in the city. “We created the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 2006 at a time when Kannadigas were becoming a minority. We brought villages under the city. Otherwise, it’d have become a union territory,” he said. “Now, how will Kannada survive in Bengaluru East? We won’t even have Kannadigas mayors.”
Ashoka argued that the government must devolve power to local bodies as per the 74th Amendment. “But here, it’ll be the CM who will be the supervisor,” he said. “Mayors won’t be supreme. And, how can we expect the CM to hold regular meetings? The metropolitan planning committee (MPC) itself hasn’t held a single meeting till date,” he said.
The GBA would hamper development, Ashoka said. “The city’s eastern part has IT/BT companies. The western part has nothing. Disparity in revenue generation could lead to inter-corporation fights,” he said.
Piloting the Bill, Shivakumar said it was difficult for one municipal commissioner to manage the entire city. Ashoka urged the government to consider appointing more commissioners. “When there’s one chief secretary and one chief minister for seven crore people, can’t one commissioner run the city?” Ashoka said, urging Shivakumar not to “divide” and “betray” Bengaluru.
Defending the Bill, Shivakumar said Bengaluru can’t be run with the current system. “We need administrative decentralisation,” he said. “Our intention is to not divide Bengaluru, but strengthen it.”
Shivakumar described the Bill as “historic” and said his government wants to give the city a new form. The city’s population has risen to 1.4 crore, he said, assuring the House that the government will not deviate from the 74th Amendment.