From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Sep 22: The number of wards in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is likely to go up from the present 198 to a whopping 250.

The state government is likely to table a bill in this regard in the ongoing monsoon session of the state legislature.

A joint select committee of the state legislature headed by BJP MLA S Raghu tabled the report in the assembly on Tuesday, September 22 recommending an increase in the number of wards from 198 to 250 in the BBMP owing to increased population and areas under the BBMP limits.

The report recommended an amendment to Section 7 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act, 1976 to increase the number of wards to 250.

The committee was set up after the Budget session of the legislature in March following strong opposition from ruling BJP members when the BBMP Bill, 2020, was tabled.

The term of the councillors of the BBMP ended on September 10 and elections to be conducted to the BBMP council.

The report recommended an increase in the wards from 200 to 250 by amending Section 7 of the KMC Act, 1976, parent act for all city corporations and municipal bodies.

The KMC Act was formulated 44 years ago and the proposed BBMP Bill envisages mobilizing more taxes, changes in the functioning of the state’s largest and richest civic body since it had covered over 700 sq km area.

Raghu explained to reporters that the joint select committee recommended an increase in 52 wards in the BBMP council and ruled out postponing elections to the BBMC council.