Many favour two new corporations

Many favour two new corporations

The Hindu

`BMP is not able to handle 100 wards'

# Demands Retain Bangalore Mahanagara Palike as it is
# Set up metropolitan planning authority to control all service providers

BANGALORE: The Government's proposal to merge the city municipal councils (CMC) and a town municipal council (TMC) with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) to form a Greater Bangalore could turn into a "greater mess", some citizens have said.

Instead, they want the Government to set up two corporations and retain the BMP as it is. The seven CMCs, the TMC and nearby villages can be split into north and south corporations, they say.

According to sources in the BMP, the Government is also keen on having such an arrangement. It is likely that the BMP will be retained or at the most some wards may be added after the delimitation process. But the surrounding areas are likely to be split into Bangalore North and Bangalore South corporations, the sources say.

Residents' views

"As it is the BMP is not able to handle the administration of the existing 100 wards. When it comes to development, everything from file movement to implementation of projects is (in) a mess. If all the CMCs, the TMC and the nearby villages are merged with the BMP, it will be a greater mess," Aruna Prasad, member of Banashankari 1st Stage Residential Welfare Association, says.

B.N. Rajashekar of Avenue Road Commercial Association feels that "nothing concrete will happen if the CMCs and the TMC are merged with the BMP. If they are really interested in developing these areas, why should they link it to the city? Development can be done even in the existing set-up if there is determination."

"The 27 wards that were included in the BMP limits in 1995 are still called backward areas," he says.

General secretary of the Koramangala Residents Civic Group Ram Murthi says the proposal cannot be taken seriously unless "the process of implementation begins." "But if the Government is really keen on forming a `Greater Bangalore,' it should revamp the entire administration. I suggest that a Bangalore Metropolitan Planning Authority be set up so that all service providers will be controlled through one organisation. Otherwise, it will really be a mess," he says.

S. Ramesh of Mahadevapura's Sri Raja Rajeshwari Colony Residents' Welfare Association feels that it is a "good proposal" to have a "Greater Bangalore" corporation. "But the attempt should be focussed, otherwise the purpose will be lost. The areas that will be added to the city limits should be given extra preference in terms of development," he says.

Sumathi Rao of Malleswaram Swabhimana Initiative says it is essential to improve the outskirts of the city and ensure that people move away from the city centre, as it is over-crowded here. "But there is no point in only making announcements in newspapers. The Government should implement the proposal and show that it means business," she points out.