DHNS
 
Bangalore, Jan 18: Greater Bangalore has finally come into existence. Governor T N Chaturvedi’s nod for the final notification on Greater Bangalore - an ambitious project of the JD (S)-BJP combine in the State, has put an end to all apprehensions if the project will ever take off.

The Governor has cleared the notification after studying the suggestions filed by citizens, without any changes.

The State Cabinet approved Greater Bangalore proposal on September 13, 2006.  

On November 2, the government invited objections from citizens. The final notification was issued on January 16, amalgamating seven CMCs, one TMC and 110 urbanised villages with the existing Bangalore city, which will, henceforth, be called Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

The seven City Municipal Councils (CMCs) and one Town Municipal Council (TMC) are: Rajarajeshwari, Dasarahalli, Bommanahalli, Krishnarajapuram, Mahadevapura, Byatarayanapura, Yelahanka (all CMCs) and Kengeri (TMC). This also means that Bangalore can now boast of 741 sq kms of area (BBMP limits) instead of the previous 225 sq kms (BMP area).

BBMP has been formed with an aim to improve and co-ordinate infrastructure development like roads, UGD, water supply and solid waste management, to improve the quality of civic services and strengthen administrative capacity.

No change as yet

However, the Government has not initiated any administrative changes in any of these urban local bodies. “We will shortly issue an order to officials of all CMCs and BMP to continue in their positions and discharge duties until further orders,” sources in Urban Development Department said.

The Government is planning to re-deploy all officials. This is likely to be done after enacting a separate legislation governing the administration of the newly formed BBMP.

The plan is to have eight zones in BBMP (including existing three of the previous BMP) for administrative purposes. In other words, the existing Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act will not be applicable for BBMP once the proposed legislation is enacted.

Left Out

Vaderapura village of Yelahanka Gram Panchayat has been dropped from the final notification, much to the disappointment of the residents. Though no reason has been cited, the notification states that objections received against the draft notification issued in November last year, have been duly examined and considered.

The draft notification listed 111 urbanised villages to be merged with Bangalore city.