Panel to revamp Bengaluru civic body seeks more time

An expert panel set up for restructuring the Bengaluru civc body has sought another six months’ time to submit its final report as it wants to study global cities and consult local resident welfare associations.

BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) has a geographical area of 800 sq km with a population of 10.1 million.

The State government set up the committee to draw up a plan to bifurcate the civic body.

Former Chief Secretary BS Patil is the Chairman of the committee and former BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah and former BATF member V Ravichandar are members. Senior IAS official P Manivannan is member secretary.

The committee submitted a preliminary report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday and has sought six months’ time to submit the final report.

“Given the complexity of the task at hand and its repercussions for the future of the city, the committee felt it necessary to look at examples from global cities to formulate an informed opinion,” Patil said.

As per the preliminary findings, the committee is planning to study top mega cities that follow multiple structures such as devolution of powers for growing cities.

“There are a few widely held views about the BBMP. For one, it has become too large and unwieldy to be managed as a single corporation and the existing infrastructure is under severe stress,” Patil added.

The city is starved of funds. Committee member Siddaiah said, “Experience shows that property tax collection and compliance tends to better in smaller units. Aspects such as centralised waste management practices in BBMP area have taken its toll on the system and the neighbouring villages.”

According to Patil, a list of 20 major cities globally with area and population similar to Bengaluru has been taken up for the study.

As per preliminary study, once a city reaches the 7-8 million population ranges, the number of corporation tends to rise from a solitary one to multiple corporations. London has 32 and Johannesburg seven. They are exceptions in the sense that they had multiple municipalities even at lower population levels.