Latest news with #GreaterBengaluruGovernanceBill
Hans India
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Woman killed in wall collapse
Bengaluru: A 35-year-old woman was killed in a wall collapse on Monday after heavy rains lashed the city, inundating many low-lying areas and leading traffic to pile-up. The chaos triggered by the rains led to a political blamegame with the opposition BJP targeting the Congress government over the city's infrastructure and resultant civic issues. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the woes faced by the IT capital during rains was not new, but that the government was now working to fix them with a long-term solution. The city received about 104 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, inundating many low-lying areas and leading to traffic pile-up, prompting the BJP to launch a scathing attack on the ruling Congress. Former Deputy Chief Minister and MLA of Malleswaram, CN Ashwath Narayan criticised Shivakumar, saying, 'Crores spent. Zero results.' Taking to 'X' he said: 'Last night's rains didn't expose Bengaluru's infrastructure — they exposed @DKShivakumar's track record of the last two years of doing nothing.' Karnataka BJP General Secretary and MLA of Karkala, Sunil Kumar Karkala challenged the government on 'X' to release a white paper on how much has actually been spent on Bengaluru's infrastructure in the last two years. 'Visit Silk Board once — you'll see your real contribution,' he said. Speaking at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Ashwath Narayan Gowda said that 'despite the weatherman predicting heavy rainfall almost a week ago, there were no efforts made to meet any monsoon-related exigency. The deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar is directly responsible for the rain havoc in the city'. He alleged that the deputy CM kept repeating 'Brand Bengaluru' and in the last assembly session, Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill was passed. 'From Brand Bengaluru to Greater Bengaluru, and now from Greater Bengaluru, it has now become Submerged Bengaluru. This is the achievement of the state government,' Gowda charged.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bengaluru rain havoc: ‘Crores spent, zero results,' says BJP-led opposition
The Opposition in Karnataka on Monday blamed the ruling Congress government for letting rains overwhelm the city, claiming that despite crores of rupees being spent on infrastructure, the result was zero. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, also in charge of Bengaluru, said he was in touch with officials concerned and is "closely monitoring the situation". Also Read - Bengaluru heavy rainfall: Employees demand work-from-home as civic conditions make commute a nightmare Former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka and MLA of Malleswaram, CN Ashwath Narayan criticised Shivakumar, saying, "Crores spent. Zero results." Taking to 'X' he said: "Last night's rains didn't expose Bengaluru's infrastructure — they exposed @DKShivakumar's track record of the last two years of doing nothing." Shivakumar also said in his 'X' post that he is deeply concerned by the havoc caused by relentless rains in Bengaluru. "I've been in continuous touch with the concerned officers, and I'm closely monitoring the situation. As always, I remain committed to Bengaluru - working round the clock to address challenges and ensure relief. I will be visiting the BBMP War Room and flood-affected areas personally to take stock on the ground." The Deputy Chief Minister agreed that the issues Bengaluru faces are not new. "Let us be clear: the issues we face today are not new. They have been ignored for years, across governments and administrations. The only difference now is - we are working to solve them. Not with temporary fixes, but with long-term, sustainable solutions," he said further in his post on 'X'. Shivakumar further reiterated that he stands with Bengalureans. "To my fellow Bengalureans - I am one among you. I understand your concerns, I share your frustration, and I assure you of my commitment to resolving them. I stand with you," he wrote. Also Read - Tejasvi Surya to join Indian delegation to America, take stand against Pakistan-backed terrorism Earlier, Karnataka BJP General Secretary and MLA of Karkala, Sunil Kumar Karkala had challenged the government on 'X' to release a white paper on how much has actually been spent on Bengaluru's infrastructure in the last two years. "Visit Silk Board once — you'll see your real contribution," he said. Speaking at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Ashwath Narayan Gowda said "Despite the weatherman predicting heavy rainfall almost a week ago, there were no efforts made to meet any monsoon-related exigency. The Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is directly responsible for the rain havoc in the city'. He alleged that the Deputy Chief Minister kept repeating 'Brand Bengaluru' and in the last assembly session, Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill was passed. 'From Brand Bengaluru to Greater Bengaluru, and now from Greater Bengaluru, it has now become 'Submerged Bengaluru'. This is the achievement of the state government,' Gowda charged. The BJP leader said no development works took place in the city in the past two years, which finally culminated in rain havoc. 'Maximum taxes in Karnataka are collected from Bengaluru, but the investment required on the basic infrastructure here is not being done,' the party spokesperson said.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
K'taka sets record, passes 49 bills in 2024
Bengaluru: The Karnataka legislature has earned the distinction of passing the highest number of bills – 49 -- in 2024, while other states could clear just 17 bills on average. Legislative research firm PRS India has released its latest report on the performance of legislatures, with Karnataka topping the table in terms of bringing in new legislation. Tamil Nadu with 45 bills and Maharashtra with 32 bills stood second and third, respectively, while Delhi hit the rock bottom passing a solitary bill in the entire calendar year. "I'm happy we were able to live up to the positive image of Karnataka in upholding the legislative discipline and being productive. There is much scope for improvement with better coordination and cooperation between the government opposition parties," said UT Khader , speaker of legislative assembly. All state legislatures put together passed more than 500 bills. Karnataka's performance in passage of bills and their enactment into law reflects comparatively better coordination between the government and governor, unlike Tamil Nadu and West Bengal where the government's confrontation with Raj Bhavan seemed a regular feature. The friction in those states even led to a legal battle and Supreme Court invoking Article 142 of Constitution to set a deadline for governors to give their assent to bills passed by the respective legislature. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo "The process of legislation can be smooth only when the main stakeholders, including the ruling party, the opposition and the governor, work together. They should understand their responsibility as stakeholders in the legislative process and behave accordingly, setting aside politics," said K Dwarakanath Babu, former director of Karnataka Institute of Law and Parliamentary Reform. However, strains are visible since August 2024 after Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot gave sanction to prosecute chief minister Siddaramaiah in the alleged Muda scam. This was followed by Raj Bhavan sending back as many as 12 bills, seeking clarifications and, finally, governor giving assent to a few of them. The government recently resent six bills to Raj Bhavan as they were pending with the governor for more than a year. The PRS report has noted that 22 bills were referred to the scrutiny committees across seven states. In Karnataka, only one bill -- Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill , 2024 -- was referred to the scrutiny of the joint house committee comparing the members of legislative assembly and council. The bill vetted by the panel was passed in the legislature in March and the governor gave assent to it on April 24, following which the government enacted it. Ends GFX Bills Passed in 2024 No of bills passed by all states: 500 Bills per state, on average: 17 Bills Passed by Karnataka legislature: 49 Source: PRS India
New Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Activists criticise GBA, warn of BBMP power erosion
BENGALURU: Kathyayini Chamraj, Executive Trustee of CIVIC, criticised the successive governments for delaying the BBMP elections, alleging that the delay was intended to undermine the Palike administration. She claimed the garbage, engineers, and real estate mafia had ruined BBMP. He was addressing a panel discussion involving civic activists, organised to discuss the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and its impact on local governance in Bengaluru on Saturday. CIVIC also stated it would challenge the GBA in court. 'In the GBA, all para-statals come under its ambit. All schemes are prepared by the government. Where is the autonomy of the local body? What authority will the elected body have if everything is controlled by the GBA?' Chamraj questioned. She said that MLA Rizwan Arshad, who chaired the joint legislature panel that introduced the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, was misleading the public. Arshad had claimed that the 74th Constitutional Amendment does not provide for control over agencies like Bescom, but the GBA bill covers them all. 'Autonomy of the local body has been reduced to just fixing potholes. Earlier, there was a ward committee, but it also has now been reduced to an advisory body whose recommendations are ineffective,' she said. Retired bureaucrat T R Raghunandan, who delivered the keynote address, warned that frequent delimitation and the creation of new municipalities under the GBA would disrupt reservation rotations for Scheduled Castes, Tribes, OBCs, and women, favouring elite candidates. 'The government's aim is to prevent the rotation of reservations,' he said, adding that the government's actions violated the equity mandates of the 74th Constitutional Amendment. He also observed that frequent delimitation creates new electoral cycles, diluting the representation of marginalised sections. He said cities like Manila and Brussels have decentralised municipalities with clear roles, a model that Bengaluru should adopt.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Greater Bengaluru Authority replaces BBMP as city's main civic agency: Here's what it means
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has officially replaced the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as the city's primary civic body, following the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act 2024. On May 15, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, replacing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) with the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). The change took effect after the Governor granted assent to the new governance act. "From today, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is coming into effect. The BBMP will no longer exist. The bill was passed in both houses and signed by the Governor. Henceforth, it will be known as Greater Bengaluru. I will be the Chairman of it," the CM had said. Also Read: How will Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill impact the real estate sector in the IT capital? The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, allows the creation of at least three municipal corporations to govern the city instead of a single municipal body like the BBMP, according to a statement released by the state government. All municipal corporations will be led by an elected mayor responsible for specific zones. These corporations will function under a central authority, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), to ensure cohesive urban planning and infrastructure coordination across the IT capital. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Act, passed by the Karnataka Legislature in February 2024, was introduced in response to long-standing demands for governance reform in Bengaluru, a city struggling with rapid population growth, infrastructure challenges, and environmental issues. Unlike the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which manages a 709-square-kilometre area, the GBA was initially proposed to expand the city's boundaries to over 1,000 square kilometres, incorporating peripheral villages. However, according to a report by the Indian Express, the government has temporarily put these expansion plans on hold, opting to retain the existing BBMP limits for now. Villages outside the current city boundaries will continue to be governed by gram panchayats, preserving the existing rural administrative structure. Officials indicated that any future expansion would be undertaken systematically, following the formalisation of the GBA's regulations. The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) incorporates several provisions from the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority to enhance transport planning and coordination within the Bengaluru Metropolitan Area. It also brings together key agencies, including the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited, and the Bangalore Development Authority, issuing binding directives to streamline municipal and transport functions. Also Read: Greater Bengaluru Authority replaces BBMP as city's governing body The exact boundaries of the Greater Bengaluru Authority are yet to be defined, but it is expected to cover around 1,000 sq km, compared to BBMP's current over 700 sq km. Experts said this expansion will likely include the merging of adjacent areas and villages into the Bengaluru metropolitan area. For the first time, multiple key agencies responsible for Bengaluru's infrastructure and services—including the Bengaluru Development Authority, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation, among others, are expected to be brought under one umbrella with the formation of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Urban experts said this integrated structure aims to enable more cohesive urban planning and smoother coordination across departments, addressing the long-standing issue of fragmented governance in the city. For the real estate sector, expanding Bengaluru's limits is likely to boost property prices, especially in the outskirts, experts said. "Such a redefinition will naturally impact real estate. Areas surrounding Bengaluru will likely see a rise in land prices as they begin to be officially identified as part of the city. This will create a ripple effect, especially in peri-urban areas, where land values are already high in anticipation," Srinivas Alavilli, fellow, Integrated Transport and Road Safety, WRI India, said. Experts warn that although the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) aims to expand the city's administrative scope, it could risk undermining crucial urban planning functions, particularly the integration of land use and transportation systems. 'Take Whitefield, for instance. Development happened without coordinated transport planning, and now the area faces major traffic and connectivity issues,' said Satya Arikutharam, former chief technical advisor to the state government and now an independent consultant. 'Although the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) was established to bridge such planning gaps, the GBA could potentially sideline its role. Integrating transport and land use is key to sustainable growth, but that priority seems to be missing from the current proposal,' he said.
