The New Indian Express 27.04.2010
BBMP standing committee elections delayed
BANGALORE: The election for the standing committees of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike was next in line after the mayor and deputy mayor were chosen on April 23.
The election for the committees — taxation and finance, public health, town planning and improvement, public works, accounts, education and social justice, appeals, horticulture and marketing) — was supposed to be held at 3 pm on April 23, but Mayor S K Nataraj failed to make an announcement regarding it.
“This will delay development works I am surprised to see the disregard of the authorities towards the election,” said corporator K Chandrasekhar.
More committees
According to sources, a proposal has been sent to the state government to raise the number of standing committees to 12.
The number of members is also expected to be increased to 11 (seven from the ruling party and four Opposition members) from 7, sources said.
The proposed Bangalore Region Governance Bill recommends increasing the number of standing committees and ward sabhas for the BBMP, which now covers 840 sq km.
“Increasing the number of standing committees by including committees for power, roads, electricity and water will be a good move for Bangalore,” said S Amaresh, managing trustee, Right To Information Study Centre.
“The BBMP should have powers at par with the Mumbai and Delhi corporations,” he said.
Opposition Leader in BBMP Council C M Nagaraj said he will discuss the issue with the mayor. “I wanted to raise the issue during the last meeting but refrained since it was a felicitation meet.”
‘Bigger burden’
Former mayor P R Ramesh said there will be no use of holding elections to the standing committees as the BBMP was bankrupt.
“I was told there is a plan to increase the number of members for each standing committee. It serves no purpose except being a burden on the public,” he said.
“The increase will force people seeking an official favour to pay more money,” he said.
