Latest news with #ThawarChandGehlot
Hans India
26-05-2025
- General
- Hans India
Convocation of University of Agricultural Sciences to be held today
Raichur: The 14th convocation of the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, will be held on May 26 at 11 am at the university auditorium, where a total of 488 degrees will be conferred, announced Vice-Chancellor M. Hanumanthappa in a press conference. Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, who is also the Chancellor of the university, will preside over the event. State Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, in his capacity as Pro-Chancellor, will attend the convocation. Dr. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, will deliver the convocation address. Members of the university's Board of Management and Academic Council will also be present. Out of the 488 degrees to be awarded, 352 students will receive undergraduate degrees, 136 will receive postgraduate degrees, and 39 will be awarded doctoral degrees. A significant number of female students feature in the list, with 152 women earning undergraduate degrees, 62 postgraduate degrees, and 19 women earning PhDs. In the undergraduate category, 27 women students will be awarded gold medals, while two students will receive cash prizes. In the postgraduate section, 17 students will receive gold medals, and 15 students will be conferred gold medal-accompanied PhDs. An honorary doctorate will be conferred on a farmer in recognition of outstanding contributions to agriculture and allied activities. Three names of progressive farmers from the Kalyana Karnataka region were recommended, and the Governor has selected one for the honour, the Vice-Chancellor added. University Registrar Durgesh K.R., Gururaj Sunkad, Jagruthi Deshamanya, and Arun Kumar Hosamani were present during the media briefing. Vice-Chancellor Hanumanthappa noted that the university has developed a total of 597 technologies since its inception. In 2022–2023 alone, several improved crop varieties and technological innovations were developed and made available to farmers. This includes the launch of GNV–1109, a nutrient-enriched rice variety aimed at combating malnutrition, as well as HBR–2 in finger millet and ICRC–1 in groundnuts. The university's ongoing oilseed crop research project was recently recognized as the 'Best Organized Research Programme' in the country. Additionally, the College of Agricultural Engineering in Raichur has consistently upheld quality education, earning it the prestigious 'Best Technical Education Award 2023' from the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers in New Delhi.
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.
Hindustan Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
How will Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill impact the real estate sector in the IT capital?
The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill proposes to expand the city's administrative boundaries by including adjoining villages, towns, and peri-urban areas within Bengaluru's official limits. This restructuring aims to streamline governance across the rapidly growing metropolitan region. Instead of a single municipal body, the bill envisions the creation of multiple smaller municipal corporations, each led by an elected mayor and responsible for specific zones. These corporations will function under a central authority to ensure cohesive urban planning and infrastructure coordination across Greater Bengaluru. This proposed redefinition of city limits for the real estate sector is expected to drive up property prices, especially in the outskirts and peri-urban regions. However, experts caution that the extent of the price increase will depend on the actual rollout of infrastructure and improvement in mobility services. 'This move will likely lead to a surge in land prices in areas newly brought under the city's jurisdiction,' said Srinivas Alavilli, a fellow at WRI India. 'Many of these locations are already witnessing speculative growth, and official inclusion could further accelerate this trend.' He said the bill may also pave the way for developing new commercial hubs, including business parks in previously underdeveloped zones. 'Today, Bengaluru's economic activity is concentrated in a few zones—Electronic City, Whitefield, ORR, Hebbal, and industrial areas like Bommasandra and Peenya. With better governance and planning under the proposed GBA, we could see more balanced growth, easing congestion in existing business districts.' Also Read: Bengaluru real estate: Studio apartments under ₹30,000 you should check out Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot has granted his assent to the landmark Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024. The legislation, aimed at restructuring the city's civic administration, proposes the division of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) into multiple, smaller municipal corporations The Bill proposes a decentralised and participatory model of urban governance for the Greater Bengaluru Area. It plans to set up a Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which will act as a supervisory body to coordinate development and align planning across the city. The Bill also allows for the creation of up to 10 independent city corporations to improve administrative efficiency and deliver civic services more effectively to residents, urban experts told The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill proposes to expand the city's administrative boundaries by including nearby villages, towns, and urban areas within Bengaluru's official limits. This move aims to bring fast-growing suburbs and peri-urban regions under a single governance structure. Instead of one large municipal body, the bill suggests creating several smaller corporations. Each corporation will manage a part of the Greater Bengaluru area (through elected Mayors) but will work under a central authority to ensure coordination. 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 700+ sq. km. Alavilli, pointed out that this expansion will likely include the merging of adjacent areas and villages into the Bengaluru metropolitan area, said experts. "The Greater Bengaluru Authority has the potential to improve urban planning and inter-agency coordination significantly. If it lives up to its promise, it could unlock large parcels of vacant land and enable the redensification of existing areas. This, in turn, would allow the city to better leverage its metro network, improve mobility, and reduce congestion," Srikanth Viswanathan, CEO of Janaagraha, said. Also Read: Bengaluru real estate: If your apartment's value has doubled, is it time to cash out now? For the real estate sector, expanding Bengaluru's limits may boost property prices, especially in the outskirts. However, this must be critically assessed against actual infrastructure delivery and mobility outcomes, they add. "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," Alavilli said. He said that the city will likely witness new commercial hubs, such as business parks in previously underdeveloped areas. "Currently, Bengaluru's major employment zones include Electronic City, Whitefield, Outer Ring Road, Hebbal, and industrial estates like Bommasandra and Peenya. With better planning and governance under GBA, we could enable more distributed development, reducing congestion and development stress on a few zones." Experts say that while the GBA is expected to expand Bengaluru's administrative boundaries, it simultaneously dilutes critical planning functions, particularly land use and transport integration. "For example, areas like Whitefield were developed without proper transport planning, resulting in serious mobility challenges. Though the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) was introduced to address such gaps, the GBA risks undermining it. Effective integration of land use and transport is fundamental to sustainable urban development. Still, that focus appears to be weakening in the proposed Act," Satya Arikutharam, former chief technical advisor to the state government, now an independent consultant, said. BMLTA is a statutory body established to regulate and coordinate urban mobility initiatives within the Bengaluru Metropolitan Area (BMA). It aims to consolidate planning and oversight of transport policy in the region.
India Today
29-04-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Karnataka Governor urges Siddaramaiah, Speaker to revoke BJP MLAs' suspension
Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Speaker UT Khader regarding the recent suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the Legislative 18 MLAs were suspended on March 21 for six months after ruckus ensued in the Assembly. The action was reportedly taken in response to the members' alleged obstruction of Assembly proceedings, when they disregarded the Speaker's orders and conducted themselves in an undisciplined and disrespectful the importance of democratic principles, the Governor urged the state leadership to consider the revocation of the suspension and restore the representatives to their legislative duties. In letters addressed separately to both the Chief Minister and the Speaker, the Governor stated that BJP Legislature Party leaders from both the Assembly and Council had submitted a memorandum detailing their request. He emphasised that the move to suspend the members, all belonging to the principal opposition party, had serious implications for democratic functioning.'To uphold the basic tenet of democratic values in Karnataka and enable the suspended Members to resume their responsibilities as people's representatives, I desire that their request be considered positively,' the Governor wrote. He also asked to be updated with the details of any action of Opposition R Ashoka strongly criticised the suspension of BJP MLAs, describing it as a blatant attack on to the media after meeting the Governor at Raj Bhavan, Ashoka reiterated that the suspension — imposed during protests over the Rajanna honeytrap scandal and the issue of Muslim reservations — was unjust and politically motivated.'We met Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and submitted a detailed memorandum. Suspending us for raising legitimate concerns is anti-democratic. The people have sent us to speak in the Assembly, not to be silenced,' Ashoka said.'The Speaker's action against BJP MLAs shows double standards. The Congress once imposed an Emergency in this country—this echoes that mindset,' he added. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Greater Bengaluru Authority takes over as BMLTA's role in urban mobility diminishes, experts warn of consequences
With Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot giving assent to the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill (GBGB) 2024, the IT capital is set to usher in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which has sweeping powers to streamline governance in the urban region. However, urban mobility experts and civic groups have pointed out that the transformation comes at the cost of diluting the powers of an autonomous body such as the Bengaluru Metropolitan Land Transport Authority (BMLTA) that oversees planning and coordinating transport in the Bengaluru Metropolitan Area. More than two years have passed since BMLTA was notified, yet the Act remains on paper, with no rules being framed or no members being formally appointed. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act (GBGA) positions the GBA as the apex body for urban governance, with binding authority over agencies like the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), and other urban development agencies previously coordinated by the BMLTA. Satya Arikutharam, urban mobility expert, said, 'The GBGA dilutes the core functions of BMLTA and makes it an ineffective institute even before its establishment. The city will miss the rigorous and independent review specified under Section 19 of BMLTA before approval for major urban transport projects.' GBGA explicitly transfers several BMLTA provisions to the GBA. Under its planning functions, the GBA is designated as the 'Planning Authority' for the Greater Bengaluru area under the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961. This includes approving layouts and ensuring compliance with the master plan, roles that previously intersected with the BMLTA's efforts to align land use with transport planning. The GBA's oversight of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee (BMPC), chaired by the Chief Minister, further consolidates its planning authority, potentially marginalising the BMLTA's input in metropolitan transport strategies. The GBA, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is tasked with overseeing up to seven municipal corporations carved out of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Its functions span administrative control, urban planning, coordination of public authorities, and execution of major infrastructure projects, including mobility plans. Major infrastructure projects, including vehicular tunnels proposed under the Brand Bengaluru initiative, upcoming Metro networks, and other urban infrastructure plans, require approval from BMLTA as specified under Section 19 of the Act. Under Section 19, the Act ensures that the authority will have the power to approve all major urban transport projects proposed from the perspective of consistency with the Comprehensive Mobility Plan and in a time-bound manner. It further states that no authority, agency, or department under the state government shall initiate any public, private, or public-private partnership project concerning urban mobility without obtaining prior approval of the authority. BBMP, in its government order in September 2024, acknowledges the approval of BMLTA for an underground vehicular tunnel connecting Hebbal and Silk Board and other proposed elevated corridors. Experts point out that with the establishment of a 'centralised' authority like GBA, it assumes significant responsibilities previously held by the BMLTA, such as formulating mobility plans and coordinating agencies like BMTC, BMRCL, Urban Development department and other agencies. No clear sequence of process on land use: Experts Arikutharam said that as per GBGA coordination between BMRCL and BMTC, the preparation of Mobility Plan, and formulation of major infrastructure projects – all core BMLTA functions – will now be undertaken by Greater Bengaluru Authority. 'This has serious negative consequences for sustainable urban mobility as GBA is designed for unfettered real estate development,' he pointed out. Further, GBA integrates and supervises public authorities such as BMTC, BMRCL, and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), issuing binding directions to streamline municipal and transport activities, and provisions that BMLTA was also entrusted with. GBA also formulates and executes major infrastructural projects, including mobility-related plans (e.g., roads, tunnels), directly or through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), coming close on the heels of the functions of an autonomous BMLTA. BMLTA also has the power to issue directives to transport agencies to align operations with the CMP goals and sustainable mobility objectives. The GBA's ability to establish Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) also overlaps with the BMLTA's initiatives for technology-driven mobility solutions. A Krishna Prashanth, member at CIVIC Bangalore, said, 'From a constitutional and legal standpoint BMLTA is essentially a planning body that helps build a transit-oriented development plan coupled with land use plan. When GBA assumes this role, the transport plan will not hold any value. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act is unclear on the process of implementing transport and mobility projects. There is no clear sequence of process as to who will assess the land use, waste management, and other aspects.' Secondly, he said, the previous Finance Commission mandated that BMLTA works in line with the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC), which is democratic and consultative. 'However, GBA neither allies with this nor any urban transport policy envisioned by the central government. Moreover, it is not clear where BMLTA sits in the large scheme of things under GBA,' he said. However, an officer in the state government, on condition of anonymity, told The Indian Express that, 'BMLTA is not dropped, it will be formally constituted in the coming days. However, with GBA, a lot of the latter's functions align with those of BMLTA. Hence, there is a conflict of interest.' According to Sandeep Anirudhan, convenor of Citizens' Agenda for Bengaluru, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill is poorly drafted and undermines critical planning institutions. 'The constitutionally mandated Metropolitan Planning Committee remains defunct after 33 years, and now its role is usurped by the new Greater Bengaluru Authority. Similarly, the BMLTA, meant to unify transport planning, is sidelined—its executive head is merely an invitee without voting rights. This pattern of creating and then undermining institutions spells disaster, as vested interests exploit the city, pushing Bengaluru into unplanned, unsustainable collapse,' Anirudhan remarked.
