Greater B’lore: By the babus, for the babus

Greater B’lore: By the babus, for the babus
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The Government seems to be in no mood to heed the voices of dissent on Greater Bangalore.

The draft notification was issued after the last meeting of the elected body at Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and now the mandatory BMP assent would be given by a babu to be appointed as administrator by the government. On the outset the entire process seems to be designed only to include bureaucrats loyal to the ruling coalition.

BMP will have no elected representation from November 24 and the Government would appoint a senior IAS officer as administrator.

As per the KMC Act, in the absence of an elected body the administrator discharges duties of the council.

Apparently, the Government was wary of a contradictory decision from opposition ruled BMP.

The situation now is that a babu is going to give his nod to a proposal prepared by a set of bigger babus.

Administrator can only be appointed in case of law and order situation or under a calamity but that would not come in the way of Government. Even if there is no administrator appointed, the principal secretary to urban development department would be the in-charge administrator. That way the decision would be under‘greater’control of the government.

Interestingly all the committees formed for Greater Bangalore exercise has only babus in them.

The only exception is a committee headed by scientist, MP K Kasturirangan but that committee doesn’t have much say. The government has failed to evolve Bangalore 2020, a vision document promised four years ago and Greater Bangalore is being constituted in such hurry. The very proposal has been taken without any expert advises. The IT capital that houses the best of talent is undergoing such change in a casual way.

Town planning and urban governance experts are plenty at universities in India and abroad but the babus think they are best suited to design the future of a great Indian city.