Decision on splitting BBMP after panel submits report

Bengaluru City has grown extensively and is facing too many problems. An experts’ committee in its interim report has recommended division of the BBMP for administrative purposes. However, a decision would be taken after getting a final report from the committee.

This was announced by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the Legislative Council on Thursday, while replying to a call attention by BJP member Ramachandra Gowda. In 2007, the jurisdiction of the Palike was over 200 sq km. Now it is 800 sq km.

As many as 110 villages have been added. The population has crossed one crore. The contractors’ mafia is running the management of garbage, he said.
 
BJP member V Somanna intervened to ask the chief minister as to who gave him the suggestion to divide Bengaluru, which was built by Kempe Gowda. “Do not give room for such development.”

In the Assembly, N Chaluvarayaswamy (JD-S) said the division of the Palike will only lead to additional burden on the exchequer and will not help in development activities. 

Participating in a discussion, Chaluvarayaswamy said, “When one chief minister can manage six crore people in the State, one mayor will do for one crore people of Bengaluru”.

He said that the government’s proposal to split BBMP had ulterior motives. “By splitting the BBMP , the government can make more political appointments and recruitments,” Chaluvarayaswamy said.

Replying to another question in the Council, Siddaramaiah said that in the eight divisions of the Palike, there are 1,688 properties, including playgrounds and open space belonging to the Palike. A notification to this effect had been issued for which public objections had been invited. After scrutinising the objections, the final notification will be issued, he said.