BBMP council okays formation of ward panels

Bruhath Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) approved the formation of ward committees for all wards, during the council meeting on Tuesday.

As per this new process, a ward committee will be formed for each of the 198 wards in order to address civic issues at the ward level. Each committee will comprise ten members.

Of the ten members, at least two members must belong to SC/ST categories. A minimum of three women members and minimum two resident welfare association members should be a part of the ward committee. BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said that there is no particular method prescribed in the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act to choose ward committee members. This which has led some corporators to involve in malpractice.

Some councillors include their own spouses, relatives and friends in Palike committees and deny the others an opportunity to be a part of the civic planning and development.

Few associations including Lanchamukta Karnataka Nirmama Vedike had filed objections to the Palike regarding the inclusion of family members and friends of corporators into Palike committees.

It might be recalled that the High Court on October 11, had asked the civic body to get an approval from the BBMP council to go ahead with the formation of ward committee members.

Prasad said that since the approval has been sought, the Palike would now invite and compile objections to the new rule before the next court hearing

Meanwhile, M K Gunashekar, chairman, Standing Committee on Tax and Finance, objected stating that as of now, too much power is vested with the BBMP Commissioner with regard to the formation of ward committees.

"This has to be amended. How can the commissioner be the best judge for nominating members to ward committees. The power has to lie with the Councillors since they know better about who has contributed actively for the betterment of the ward," he added.