- विज्ञापन -
Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill 2024, which aims to decentralize governance in Bengaluru through multiple corporations, was passed in the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also oversees Bengaluru Development, addressed concerns raised by Council members. He emphasized that the Bill was formulated after extensive discussions and aims to lay a foundation for the future of Bengaluru, similar to how Kempe Gowda laid the groundwork for the old city.
Shivakumar acknowledged the city’s global stature, attributing its success to the contributions of many over time, and stressed the need for a new approach to Bengaluru’s governance. He also responded to specific concerns raised by the opposition. In particular, he addressed Leader of the Opposition Narayana Swamy’s concerns about planning, explaining that the government had introduced a self-declaration scheme for building plan approvals and had not altered Article 74. He also stated that revenues would not be transferred between local bodies, but that support would be provided to economically weaker ones.
Regarding concerns from CT Ravi about the BDA and BMRDA, Shivakumar clarified that the planning authorities would have jurisdiction over the Greater Bengaluru region, and the Chief Minister would preside over meetings regularly for financial approvals on major projects. He noted that Bengaluru’s rapid growth, from 24 square kilometers during Kempe Gowda’s time to over 700 square kilometers today, made the future of the city a shared responsibility that required unanimous support, irrespective of political affiliation.
All utility companies and agencies relevant to Bengaluru’s governance will be integrated into the Greater Bengaluru Authority. Regarding the number of corporations, Shivakumar mentioned that while there is a provision for up to seven corporations, the city will not start with seven.
