Retired IAS officer B S Patil, heading the three-member committee on BBMP division, has been given a Minister of State ranking.
Government officials state that the ranking was given on October 14 in accordance with the orders from the Chief Minister’s Office. Patil, who served as chief secretary between 2002 and 2004, was appointed to draw a plan of action and recommend bifurcation or trifurcation of the BBMP. Sources said the committee, which had a meeting with District in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy soon after its appointment, had sought three pressing issues to be addressed.
The first, which the government has now acceded to, was giving the committee chairman a proper ranking. Second, the committee wanted a serving IAS officer as member secretary. The third was to provide an office within the secretariat. Sources said the government was yet to decide where to house the committee.
While the committee has categorically stated they cannot sit in the BBMP premises, the government is not in a position to provide a room within the Vidhana Soudha or the Vikasa Soudha. It is said the government cannot spare any room in the secretariat as they have been reserved for ministers who may take charge if the government decides to expand the ministry.