Move to appoint DGP rank officer in BMTF

 The State government is contemplating appointing a Director General of Police (DGP) rank officer in the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF), in an attempt to dilute the powers of BMTF chief, ADGP Dr R P Sharma.

As the BMTF is going hammer and tongs against ministers, senior bureaucrats, BBMP and BDA officials after unearthing a series of scams, the government is scrambling through to prevent it. In its latest bid, the government is learnt to have planned to appoint a DGP in this watchdog agency.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka had convened a review meeting with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) officers, led by its chairman Sham Bhatt. Sources said officers from the Urban Development Department were also present at the meeting.

The officers reportedly raised the matter of alleged harassment by BMTF sleuths in connection with the illegal widening of Hulimavu-Begur Road. The officers sought the chief minister's intervention to tame the watchdog agency.

Since the Central Administrative Tribunal's stay on the transfer of R P Sharma is in effect, he cannot be removed arbitrarily.

So, the officers are learnt to have suggested to the chief minister to appoint a DGP above Sharma to contain him and his team. The chief minister is learnt to have assured them that he would consider their suggestion.

Peripheral ring road

Shettar has directed the BDA officers to submit a detailed project report regarding the acquisition of land for the construction of the 6.5 km-long Tumkur-Hosur peripheral ring road. The direction came during the review meeting of various projects of the BDA.

After the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka told reporters that the development of the 6.5 km-long Tumkur-Hosur ring road is lying in the cold storage. To review the project, the chief minister called a review meeting with the officers, where he instructed them to submit the report in a week's time, said Ashoka.