BMP to be split after merger of CMCs and TMC

BMP to be split after merger of CMCs and TMC

The Hindu

It will be in the interests of the residents of the new areas, says Chief Minister Kumaraswamy

BANGALORE: The proposal to merge the seven City Municipal Councils (CMCs) and one Town Municipal Council (TMC) with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) got a boost on Friday when Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy announced the formation of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (South) and Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (North).

Speaking at a public function organised by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to inaugurate the Anand Rao Circle flyover, the Chief Minister said the merger would happen soon in the interests of the residents of these areas. "For better management and development of the additional areas after the merger, we have decided to set up BMP (South) and BMP (North)," Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

Advising the civic authorities not to yield to "political pressure" while chalking out projects and taking decisions, the Chief Minister said: "People's welfare, their views and convenience is more important than political pressure. Taking up a project or dumping it just because of politician intervention is not fair. Development should focus on people's convenience."

Probe

Asserting that the coalition Government is committed to the development of both the urban and rural areas, Mr. Kumaraswamy reiterated that he would get all land scams probed.

"I have directed the officials to probe all illegal land deals. People who encroach upon Government land and anti-social elements who support it will not be tolerated," he said.

Metro Rail

Responding to the Bangalore South MP H.N. Ananth Kumar's apprehensions about the implementation of Metro Rail system for the city, the Chief Minister said: "We have no second thoughts about it."

Sites for poor

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said the new coalition would ensure that poor people also got sites. "We want to disprove all criticism that the Bangalore Development Authority is allotting sites only to people from the upper class. I have asked officials to set aside equal number of sites in new layouts for the poor," he said.