People doubt BBMP ability to provide amenities

People doubt BBMP ability to provide amenities

The Hindu

Deadline for filing objections to the proposal ends today

# Under the proposed BBMP, the number of wards is to increase to 150
# Only two NGOs have filed objections to the proposal

BANGALORE: A few Bangaloreans have formally objected to the formation of the Greater Bangalore Authority stating that the civic body will not be able to provide basic amenities to the additional areas when it has failed to take care of the existing wards under it.

Under the proposed Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the number of wards is to increase from 100 to 150. The State Government had announced that people could send suggestions and objections to the BBMP proposal. The deadline ends on Saturday.

Of the 63 responses till date, at least 12 citizens have questioned the ability of the BBMP, which will be the larger version of the existing BMP, to manage the additional wards.

"Though 27 wards were added to the BMP limits in 1995, they are still called under-developed wards. While water and underground drainage facilities are still scarce commodities there, bad roads and irregular garbage disposal continue to trouble the residents.

If the BMP has not been able to develop these wards even after 10 years, we wonder whether the additional 50 wards will get the required attention, states one of the objections," Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore (Urban), M.A. Sadiq told The Hindu on Friday.

"Almost all the 12 objections are similar in nature. All other responses are in the form of suggestions and they have been forwarded to the Government," Mr. Sadiq, who is authorised to receive the responses, said.

NGOs' response

Although several non-governmental organisations and individuals had expressed reservations against the BBMP proposal, only two have so far come forward with a formal objection.

"This is because the BBMP notification defines only the new limits. We have no clue on how it is going to help citizens. Forming BBMP does not mean only expanding the boundaries. A farmer of one of the 111 villages that are to be added would definitely want to know what will happen to his land," V.K. Somashekar of Grahak Shakti said.

A Sivasankaran of Jago Federation and Vinay Baindur, an independent consultant on local Government issues, agree with Mr. Somashekar.

"Though there is an apprehension that the objections may not be considered at all, we are mobilising like-minded organisations to come together and air their views. We have two more days left to formally respond and we plan to submit an objection," Mr. Vinay said.

The former Urban Development Secretary S. Krishna Kumar, who has submitted a paper on "Greater Bangalore — governance options" to the Urban Development officials, said the attitude that the objections would not be considered should change. "If they do not respond now, it is an opportunity lost," he added.