BBMP division: Tug of war on in Select panel

Bengaluru: A ‘tug of war’ is on between ruling and opposition parties over the issue of division of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which has been referred to a select committee of the State Legislative Council.

While the ruling Congress Party wants to wrap up the committee proceedings within three months by submitting a report to the State government, the united opposition of BJP and JD(S) is planning to seek three months extension saying they have to visit other corporations across the country to study the functioning of civic bodies which had been either bifurcated or trifurcated.

The twelve-member committee consist of five members each of the Congress and BJP and two members of JD(S). Minister for IT/BT and Ruling Party Leader in the Council S.R. Patil had been made chairman of the committee.

Since the Council had not fixed any time limit for the committee to submit its findings, the BJP and JD(S) have decided to take at least six months time to complete the agenda.

But, the ruling Congress wants the committee to finish its task as early as possible so that it could go ahead with its plan of carving out two or three new corporations in place of BBMP.

Leader of the Opposition K.S. Eshwarappa said “The state government cannot exert pressure on the committee to give its report within three months. We need time to study functioning of other corporations both in India and abroad and then we will submit a comprehensive report. Why did they agree to set up the committee if they want to put pressure on us? The BJP and JD(S) will not succumb to pressure. The government has to wait patiently till we submit the report”.

A Congress member in the Select Committee told Deccan Chronicle that the question of giving extension to the committee does not arise as it has to complete its task within three months. The BJP and JD(S)  are playing political games which will not be entertained.