Bangalore’s mega-merger in early 2007

Bangalore’s mega-merger in early 2007
After BMP Council’s Term Ends,Administrator Steps In
The Times of India

Bangalore: It’s a greater wait for a greater Bangalore. The much-touted Greater Bangalore, about which the Karnataka government is gung-ho with a series of blueprints, will become a reality not in November but some time later — in “early 2007”. In the interregnum, Bangalore will be governed by an administrator without a hint of political biggies’ shadows.

The mega-merger of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) with seven CMCs and one TMC as also 103 villages is not possible before November, according to government officials formulating the logistics of Greater Bangalore. “Legally, the government has six months’ time from November to start Greater Bangalore. There are a whole host of issues to be sorted out before we begin the exercise. It could well be April when Greater Bangalore takes birth,’’ officials explained.

The task daunting the officials sketching out the procedure is in coming up with a uniform taxation pattern for all of extended Silicon City spread over 696.17-sqkm area. The BMP-governed Bangalore pays property tax under the SAS (self-assessment scheme) mode, whereas CMC areas properties are taxed under a diluted mode of CVS (capital value system) of taxation. Officials said Greater Bangalore would be governed under a uniform taxation regime, confirming that the CVS would roll in once the slabs are decided.


Now comes a breather: from November till Greater Bangalore kicks in, Bangalore will be governed by a single administrator. In other words, no mayor, no corporators, no political bickering till Greater Bangalore sets in with its estimated 136 wards. The significance of November is that the tenure of the 100 corporators ends, which, in all likelihood, may not be extended.
Elections to the BMP, slated to be held in November because the five-year tenure of corporators ends then, have been put off indefinitely. In other words, first the Greater Bangalore and then municipal elections, making Bangalore’s administrator wholly responsible for the city’s administration.

A MAMMOTH TASK
Urban department has meticulous work ahead
Greater Bangalore needs Rs 417 crore annually just for operations and maintenance.
Over Rs 10,000 crore for governance.
Staffing pattern changes and increases exponentially once Greater Bangalore kicks in.