Latest news with #NSMukunda
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
BBMP split will lead to skewed development
BENGALURU: While the Urban Development Department has issued the draft notification to split Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into five corporations, civic experts and former corporators opine that the division was 'unnecessary' and has been done in a way that the city will see skewed development, and claim that the split didn't focus on language and culture. They note that Bengaluru East Corporation is carved out in a way that the area has the highest revenue collection, while other corporations are nowhere near. The area is predominantly populated by non-Kannadigas, who they believe will not understand local Kannada and culture. Founder member of Bengaluru Praja Vedike NS Mukunda said, 'The split has only laid the foundation for more problems. Instead of splitting the city into five corporations, the existing eight BBMP zones should have been doubled to 16, with a commissioner heading each zone. This would have made the administration easier.' Bengaluru East, being the highest revenue generator, will plan and implement multiple projects and schemes, and corporations like West will barely be able to run the show, Mukunda said. Echoing Mukunda's views was former Leader of Opposition in BBMP and BJP leader NR Ramesh, who said, 'East's revenue will be over Rs 2,000 crore, while Central's will be over Rs 250 crore, West will end up last with Rs 200 crore. North's revenue will be over Rs 1,400 crore and South's revenue around Rs 600 crore.' Ramesh predicted that if this split becomes a reality, Bengaluru will face Delhi's fate, where the national capital was trifurcated in 2012 and couldn't sustain due to multiple problems, and was again merged into one in 2022.
New Indian Express
21-07-2025
- New Indian Express
As PG accommodation menace grows, citizens urge BBMP to shut them down
BENGALURU: Unregulated paying guest (PG) accommodations continue to haunt Bengalureans. Though the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had laid down detailed guidelines for the PGs to follow, there seem to be more flouters than those who fall in line. On one side, BBMP is closing down unauthorised PGs, on the other side, new ones are mushrooming, complaining citizens, who are demanding a regular crackdown. In its latest drive against unauthorised PGs, nine of them were sealed in the city during the enforcement drive at Mahadevpura. Banumathi, a resident at Kumaraswamy Layout, said that every nook and corner of her area is flooded with PGs. 'The majority of the PGs are nothing but flats and old buildings that are added with the dormitory beds, a washing machine and a family to cook and maintain the accommodations. They do not have any valid permission to operate PGs. Due to the illegal operation of the PGs, residents are getting disturbed. Parking, smoking, drinking, blockage of manholes, the problems by the PGs are umpteen', she complained. Founder member of Bengaluru Praja Vedike, NS Mukunda, said, 'Bengaluru is brimming with people from other districts and states. They all need accommodation, and those who come to Bengaluru, especially women, prefer PGs as they are affordable and safe. While there is demand for PGs, there are hardly any who take all the necessary permissions and infrastructure needed to operate them.'
New Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Experts lambast BBMP split plan, call for polls soon
BENGALURU: As the state government contemplates splitting the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into smaller corporations, citizen groups and urban experts have suggested that elections to the BBMP Council should be conducted first, followed by drafting a vision document by citizens outlining their aspirations for the city. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot recently gave his assent to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, which allows BBMP to be split into a maximum of seven smaller corporations. Sources in the BBMP revealed that the Congress-led state government is inclined to split the BBMP into three corporations. Citizen activist and Bengaluru Praja Vedike founder, N S Mukunda, said, 'When H D Kumaraswamy was Chief Minister, he pushed for an elevated corridor. Now, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is aiming to bring a tunnel road to Bengaluru, despite public opposition. The government now wants to slice the city into three corporations. Why can't the people of Bengaluru decide what they want for their city, how it should be governed and how many corporations are needed to manage it?' He said half of the city's problems stem from projects imposed on it. Criticising the current form of proposed Greater Bengaluru Authority, he said it does not decentralise powers. 'Every government wants to retain control and is unwilling to devolve powers,' he said.
