The State government is all set to revive the Bengaluru Vision Group (BVG), set up on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model on the lines of Bangalore Agenda Task Force (BATF) to address civic issues.
Following a stay by the High Court, BVG remained defunct ever since it was set up in March 2014.
Though the court disposed of the Public Interest Litigation challenging the setting up of BVG a good six months ago, neither the ministers from the City nor the government showed any interest in reviving it.
Plan in the making
The BVG is said to be working on a concrete plan on how to make Bengaluru a better place to live, by bringing all civic stakeholders under one umbrella.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy who was earlier the Bengaluru district incharge minister and BVG chairman said that he had forwarded the file to the new Bengaluru development minister K J George.
“I sent the file to George after he was made Bengaluru development minister. Now, it is for him to take it forward,’’ he said.
Asked why he didn’t take any decision in the last six months, Ramalinga Reddy attributed the delay to BBMP elections.
Unaware
George, however, was unaware of the development and said that there was a stay. When pointed that the court had disposed of the PIL, he said, “I will seek information and revive BVG at the earliest.”
The government, however, is caught between the rock and the hard place.
Janaagraha founder Ramesh Ramanathan who was the executive chairman of the group has expressed his inability to head BVG.
“Soon after the PIL was cleared, I wrote to the government expressing my inability to be executive chairman. I am not sure of their decision making on this matter.’’
It is not clear whether he would reconsider his decision if the government persuades, though George said he would convince Ramanathan to partner with the State in developing Bengaluru.
Ministers from the City, Krishna Byregowda and Dinesh Gundu Rao were the force behind creating the BVG.
The two convinced Reddy to take up the matter with the chief minister. It is after much convincing by them that BVG was created.
Both the ministers still feel the necessity for such a group to address multiple problems of the City.
Interest and expertise
“It’s not necessary that bureaucrats and politicians know everything. A lot of people are interested in Bengaluru’s development. It’s important to use services of people who have both interest and expertise,’’ says Rao.
Gowda said, “Bengaluru is facing many challenges. Some of the solutions are inside the government, while we need to look outside to address several complex problems.
“The vision group helps to bring broader exposure and expertise to address complex civic issues by anticipating future problems and plan for them.’’
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