Committee chairpersons to be replaced

After the elections to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts on Friday, Bangalore In-Charge Minister R Ashoka said all chairpersons and most members from the BJP will be replaced by fresh faces.

“I am dissatisfied with the performance of the standing committees, who could have done more for the City even in their short tenure. We will not consider them for the upcoming chairperson posts for the year 2011-12,” he said.

However, Ashoka said a few chairpersons may be retained to continue in 2012-13 based on their performance.

Giving a mixed review to the media on the BJP’s performance at the Palike, Ashoka said as individuals the corporators had done a tremendous job for the City. “But as a team, the committees failed to work in tandem. They have shown lack of focus and not upheld the image of the party, despite being given a free hand,” he said.

As a result, Ashoka said the party has decided to oversee the functioning of the 12 new standing committees, which will be elected on Saturday, through regular monthly review meetings.

BBMP to convert revenue land

Ashoka announced that the Cabinet has given its consent to grant powers to the BBMP for conversion of revenue land. The proposal was sent to the Revenue department earlier this year to allow the BBMP collect conversion charges instead of the deputy commissioner, and levy an additional betterment charge on it for increasing the revenue for the Palike. The government is now in the process of drafting an ordinance to this effect.