JOIN USThe State government is learnt to have initiated measures to clip the wings of Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force.
The efforts gained momentum after the task force sent a notice to the Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka on the charge of granting a bagair hukum land to Mayor Venkatesh Murthy and his wife K Prabha. In fact, the process to contain the BMTF began on July 17, 2012, when N Gopalaiah, Undersecretary, Urban Development Department, wrote to the Palike commissioner advising him to frame a rule to bring the BMTF under his control, as per Rule 492 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act. The proposal, however, was shelved considering the legal formalities involved.
Now that a notice has been served on Ashoka, the UDD has stepped up its efforts to frame a set of rules for BMTF including snatching police powers from it. It is learnt that the UDD authorities have been consulting legal experts and police officers. In all likelihood, the UDD and the BBMP may come out with rules in a week's time, said sources.
Meanwhile, Mayor D Ventakesh Murthy and his wife K Prabha on Tuesday approached the High Court of Karnataka seeking to quash the proceedings initiated by the BMTF.