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.
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.