Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot on March 26 returned the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024, to the Congress state government, seeking clarifications.
The bill, aimed at restructuring the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into up to a maximum of seven city corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Area, was passed during the recent budget session of the state legislature.
The Governor, in his note, asked the state government to review the bill and re-submit it in view of representations of concerned citizens and protests by opposition leaders. He said that the representations made to him expressed several concerns about the bill, including violating the 74th constitutional amendment, usurping the role of the Metropolitan Planning Committee, weakening citizen participation, etc.
“Representatives of the said forum (Bengaluru Town Hall and civic activists) have informed that they have already submitted detailed memorandum to the Chief Minister expressing deep concern over the proposed projects but have not been considered and urged me to consider their request in the context of the number of ill-advised infrastructure projects announced by the Government of Karnataka, of late including the proposed Tunnel Road, Sky-Deck and other Expressway projects,” Thaawar Chand’s note said.
He also pointed out that the idea to divide the city corporation had failed in Delhi and the formation of a Greater Bengaluru Governance Authority to supervise and oversee the proposed municipal corporations might lead to interference on the powers of elected local bodies.
The Governor also advised the government to “uphold democratic principles, prevent unnecessary bureaucratic expansion, preserve Bengaluru's cultural and demographic integrity and ensure equitable financial management.”
Addressing the media, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs HK Patil said that Governor Gehlot has sought clarifications on certain aspects of the bill. Minister Patil said that the bill, accompanied by a note detailing the required clarifications, would be re-submitted to Raj Bhavan in pursuit of the Governor's assent.
The bill, which was tabled on March 5 this year, had seen several recommendations by a committee of 16 legislators headed by Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad.
