Protest over BBMP restructuring proposal

A day after the BS Patil report on restructuring Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike was submitted to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, a furore erupted at the BBMP monthly council meeting on Friday.

The opposition party leaders protested wearing a black ribbon and unanimously opposed the proposal.

However, the corporators from other parties felt that the report should have been submitted to the BBMP council, before submitting it to the Chief Minister.

M K Gunashekar, Jayamahal ward corporator, said: “There was a report earlier to have a separate law for Bangalore alone. But it is necessary to take the approval of the BBMP council before sending it to the government.”

Padmanabha Reddy, Opposition party leader said: “This proposal is a move aiming to divide the capital city and is an insult to Nadaprabhu Kempegowda.”

“Today you talk of dividing the administration of the city. A situation will arise in future, where you will set up administration units for Hyderabad-Karnataka region and Mumbai-Karnataka regions,” said lashed out.

De-centralising the administration of the city will add up to the financial burden opined Reddy.

“If the existing system is further de-centralised, then we will need more officers and more finance to manage it. Instead, give more powers to the mayor, extend his term to five years,” Reddy added.

Meanwhile, JD(S) party leader Nethra Narayan said: “This report complied some time ago and we are in the office right now. Our opinions should also be considered before arriving at a final decision.”

Gunashekar said: “It has been made clear that this is not dividing the city. It is about de-centralising and the ward committees will be empowered with more power.”

Mayor R Sampath Raj said a debate should be held at a special meeting to know the merits and demerits of the restructuring and then take the council approval.