Bengaluru: The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act officially came into effect on Thursday, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announcing that a decision regarding the number of municipal corporations for the city will be made after additional discussions.
The Act permits the establishment of up to seven municipal corporations to oversee Bengaluru, and preliminary indications suggest that the government may lean towards forming three corporations.
“The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act is now in effect. This legislation was passed by both houses of the state legislature and has received the Governor’s assent,” Siddaramaiah stated.
In a press briefing, he emphasized his role as the Chairman of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). “We will convene meetings to determine the appropriate number of corporations to be established,” he added.
When the Chief Minister inquired with his Additional Chief Secretary, L.K. Atheeq, about the potential formation of three corporations, Atheeq replied, “That decision is still pending; until then, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will continue its operations.”
On Wednesday, the state government announced that the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, will take full effect on May 15. However, all officials will retain the same powers and responsibilities as outlined in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Act, 2020, until the new law is fully implemented.
Until the new municipal corporations are established, the BBMP will operate under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), which is expected to be formed shortly, according to official sources. The Act allows for a period of 120 days to establish the GBA.
Recently, both houses of the state legislature approved a proposal, despite opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to restructure the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) by dividing it into a maximum of seven city corporations within the Greater Bengaluru Area.
This proposal also establishes the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to oversee coordination and supervision of the newly formed corporations. Additionally, it introduces a 30-month term for both the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor. The GBA will be chaired by the Chief Minister, who will serve as the ex-officio chairperson, while the minister responsible for Bengaluru’s development will act as the ex-officio vice-chairperson.
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