What’s Happening with the BBMP Division in Greater Bengaluru?

Bengaluru, June 18 (NationPress) - The Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.K. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Minister for Bengaluru Development, convened a meeting on Wednesday with party MLAs from Bengaluru to discuss the restructuring of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) aimed at establishing the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).

After the meeting, Shivakumar informed the media, stating, “Currently, we are devising a special initiative for Bengaluru. I engaged with our party MLAs on organizational matters and the upcoming elections for the civic agency in Bengaluru. We also deliberated on the number of municipal divisions required under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).”

He added, “We still need to engage in discussions with opposition leaders. A resolution will be reached after consulting them. I must have a conversation with the Leader of the Opposition to ensure their agreement.”

Shivakumar emphasized that formal procedures must be completed since the elections for the Bengaluru civic agency are approaching.

Insider reports indicated that some MLAs proposed dividing the BBMP into three sections, while others believed five divisions would enhance administrative efficiency. The MLAs remarked that the recently added regions of Bengaluru require development as they are lacking in basic amenities compared to the central business district.

It was noted that the meeting ended without arriving at a decision, and it was resolved that CM Siddaramaiah would have the final say on the BBMP divisions.

Regarding solid waste management, Deputy CM Shivakumar mentioned, “As part of the Swachh Bengaluru initiative, we have launched a helpline for waste disposal. Citizens can take a photo of waste and send it to this number, ensuring that the garbage is removed within a week. Concerning potholes, MLAs have been tasked with prioritizing their wards. We are allocating funds for road improvements accordingly.”

“We are initiating a movement to distribute property account records in Bengaluru. A pilot project will kick off in July in the constituency of Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. Approximately 25,000 property documents have already been prepared. Starting July 1, these e-Khata documents will be delivered directly to homes for a month.

Bengaluru has 2.5 million properties, with only 500,000 owners having uploaded their documents. Records for the remaining 2 million properties are still pending,” Shivakumar stated.

When asked if there would be a campaign for the e-Khata initiative, he confirmed, “Yes, an awareness campaign will launch on July 1 to motivate private property owners to upload their documents and obtain e-Khatas. This month-long initiative will include door-to-door visits, advertisements, and other outreach efforts.”

On the subject of white-topping projects, he indicated, “Work on white-topping is currently in progress throughout the city. I have personally inspected numerous sites to assess the quality. Some projects are still underway.”

When questioned about the BBMP’s alleged inaction regarding tree falls due to rain, he assured, “Officials are not inactive. They are attending to tasks based on priority.”

Addressing the issuance of ‘B-Khata’ documents, he noted, “This issue has been discussed in the cabinet meeting. An official announcement will follow after legal consultations.”