Governance

Ignoring recommendations for restructuring the BBMP and avoiding public consultation, the Yediyurappa govt rushes through a new municipal law to govern Bengaluru, and helps itself to greater control.

A recent study shows that Bengaluru’s deteriorating lakes are best governed by a combination of government and the community. The study also looks at how such partnerships can evolve.

There is a one in two chance of winning a consumer case, data from Consumer Dispute Redressal Commissions in Bengaluru shows. Most cases are to do with housing, insurance and banking disputes.

Bengaluru’s sex workers didn’t get ration kits or financial aid during the lockdown despite government’s promises. Stigma, absence of a cohesive community, lack of documents, etc., have prevented them from accessing support.

BJP is fielding ex-Congress-MLA Munirathna N in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly bypolls on November 3. Munirathna will face off against Congress’s Kusuma and JD(S)’s Krishnamurthy.

Bangalore Teachers’ Constituency election, on October 28, will see incumbent MLC Puttanna contesting JD(S)’s A P Ranganathan and Congress’s Praveen Kumar.

A major part of the revenue of urban local bodies in Karnataka come from Centre and State grants. But recent reports by the CAG show that ULBs are yet to get crores of rupees due to them.

With crowds in commercial areas during Dasara, Bengaluru’s COVID count is expected to increase. In Malleswaram, a local group has created a street plan to make 8th Cross COVID-safe, and has sought BBMP’s support for implementation.

The disconnect between nature, people and governance in cities, have reduced cities into uninhabitable spaces. This needs urgent correction. The BBMP bill is an excellent opportunity to reimagine urban governance. Moeover, any legislation has to meet the challenges of it’s time: A Green Agenda has to be not only part of, but at the core of any urban governance bill.

As the state government appoints an administrator to BBMP and indefinitely delays Council elections, how are citizens affected? History shows that the absence of a Council makes BBMP more unaccountable and inaccessible.

Solving Bengaluru’s problems of water, traffic, pollution, etc., requires a powerful, efficient body. A Bengaluru Metropolitan Council headed by the Chief Minister could be a solution.

State government is planning to soon enact the BBMP Bill for Bengaluru’s governance. But the city’s growing problems cannot be solved with the current governance structure or by merely increasing the number of wards, as envisioned in the Bill.