BENGALURU: A separate law for Bengaluru’s governance and to solve the city’s civic and infrastructure problems will come into force on Monday. The state government on Friday notified the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Act, 2020 nearly a month after governor Vajubhai Vala gave his assent.
Until now, Bengaluru, like other cities in the state, was governed by the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976. The new law, which was vetted by a joint legislature committee, was passed by both Houses of legislature in the three-day winter session held in December.
Wards will increase from 198 to 243
The number of wards will increase from 198 to 243 and the existing municipal limits will be extended by a 1-km radius. The mayor and deputy mayor will have 30-month tenures instead of one year terms.
MLAs from the city will get more powers as they head the new constituency consultative committees to overview developmental works. New zonal committees to be headed by a councillor will be formed. New posts of zonal commissioners reporting to the chief commissioner will be created.
“Bengaluru is one of the fastest growing cities in the world and it needs an exclusive law for governance. Hopefully, this will go a long way in making the city one of the world’s best,” said Uday Garudacahar, an MLA from the city and member of the joint select committee that scrutinised the bill before it was tabled in the legislature.
However, some civil society groups and politicians are not content with provisions in the new law as they rue it was introduced without public consultation. “The new law may not be effective simply because it was drafted without taking feedback from the public,” said PR Ramesh, an MLC from the city and member of the select committee.