<p>Bengaluru: A delegation from Bengaluru Town Hall, a group of citizens and civic organisations, submitted a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday, urging him to withhold assent to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2025.</p><p>They raised concerns over certain provisions in the bill, which was recently passed by both Houses of the State Legislature.</p><p>The delegation included actor Prakash Belawadi, DT Devare of the Bangalore Environment Trust, Sandeep Anirudhan of the Citizens’ Agenda for Bengaluru, Vinod Jacob of Namma Bengaluru Foundation, and Rajkumar Dugar of Citizens for Citizens.</p>.Greater Bengaluru Bill disempowers the people.<p>The collective argued that the bill violates the 74th Constitutional Amendment by granting the state government undue control over the Greater Bengaluru Area. They also warned of potential delays in conducting the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bbmp">BBMP</a> elections, stressing that the bill undermines the state election commission.</p><p>“The powers to determine ward delimitation and set reservations for elections lie with the state government instead of the state election commission,” the civic groups noted.</p><p>In addition, the memorandum raised concerns about uneven development in Bengaluru.</p><p>"Revenue generated in wealthier corporations may not be allocated for balanced growth, and the equalised development promised in the bill may not materialise unless it is statutorily guaranteed," they stated.</p><p>Other objections include the bill’s encroachment on the role of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, the shift of power from corporations to MLAs, MLCs, and MPs, and the excessive authority granted to the Greater Bengaluru Authority, which could stifle corporations' functioning.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: A delegation from Bengaluru Town Hall, a group of citizens and civic organisations, submitted a memorandum to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday, urging him to withhold assent to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2025.</p><p>They raised concerns over certain provisions in the bill, which was recently passed by both Houses of the State Legislature.</p><p>The delegation included actor Prakash Belawadi, DT Devare of the Bangalore Environment Trust, Sandeep Anirudhan of the Citizens’ Agenda for Bengaluru, Vinod Jacob of Namma Bengaluru Foundation, and Rajkumar Dugar of Citizens for Citizens.</p>.Greater Bengaluru Bill disempowers the people.<p>The collective argued that the bill violates the 74th Constitutional Amendment by granting the state government undue control over the Greater Bengaluru Area. They also warned of potential delays in conducting the <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/bbmp">BBMP</a> elections, stressing that the bill undermines the state election commission.</p><p>“The powers to determine ward delimitation and set reservations for elections lie with the state government instead of the state election commission,” the civic groups noted.</p><p>In addition, the memorandum raised concerns about uneven development in Bengaluru.</p><p>"Revenue generated in wealthier corporations may not be allocated for balanced growth, and the equalised development promised in the bill may not materialise unless it is statutorily guaranteed," they stated.</p><p>Other objections include the bill’s encroachment on the role of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, the shift of power from corporations to MLAs, MLCs, and MPs, and the excessive authority granted to the Greater Bengaluru Authority, which could stifle corporations' functioning.</p>
