Dividing BBMP no solution: Ananth

Strongly opposing the trifurcation of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers, Ananth Kumar on Wednesday asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to withdraw the decision in public interest.

Speaking at the inauguration of the renovated Town Hall, Kumar said: “I have spoken to the chief minister on the issue and would like the District in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy to convey my concerns about the trifurcation of the Palike. I have studied many metropolitan municipal corporations and I know that dividing them is not a solution.”
Kumar clarified that his concern had no political undertone and was purely based on the practicality of division of municipal corporation. “While Kolkata has been unified after the division of the municipal corporation, people in Delhi are demanding unified municipal corporation as it led to many problems. Mumbai was bifurcated as it has double the population of Bengaluru.” The Union minister made a plea to save BBMP for 'Akhanda Bengaluru' (undivided Bengaluru).

Addressing the gathering, Ramalinga Reddy attributed the crisis at the BBMP to bringing 110 villages, seven CMCs and one TMC under its jurisdiction. Congress had opposed the move saying that it would ruin the City.

“But the 20-20 government (apparent reference to the BJP-JDS coalition government) went ahead with the decision. Today, the streetlight bills have not been paid for the last one-and-a-half years and the garbage bill has not been cleared for the last six months. You (BJP, of which Ananth Kumar is a member) ruled the BBMP for the last five years. You should have had control over the administration. Now there is no alternative except trifurcation,” said Reddy. He added that the founder of Bengaluru, Kempegowda had constructed four towers as the City limits but it has now exceeded way beyond them.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor N Shanthakumari too opposed the division of the BBMP saying that it was against the spirit of Bengaluru and its core values.

Renovation
The 80-year-old Town Hall got a new lease of life after its renovation with an estimated cost of Rs 7 crore. Built in 1935, the Puttanna Chetty Town Hall was closed in October last year for a facelift.

The important landmark of the City has now got new chairs, centralised air-conditioning system, acoustics and lighting. The building was renovated 23 years ago.

Inaugurating the renovated Town Hall, Ananth Kumar said another Rs 7 crore would be spent to upgrade the facilities inside the building. Ramalinga Reddy urged people to maintain the structure. He said the western countries have a tradition of maintaining their important buildings, which was missing in India.