Bengaluru, 10 Oct 

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) held its first meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao on Friday. 

Siddaramaiah said that the GBA, which replaced the previous BBMP, will “provide essential infrastructure to Bengaluru’s citizens, ensuring proper waste disposal, reducing traffic congestion, and maintaining well-functioning road and drainage systems”.

With the BJP boycotting the event, Siddaramaiah asserted that the formation of the GBA was not politically motivated and said that the Opposition missed a chance for “elected officials to voice their opinions freely”.

“Those who oppose Bengaluru’s development and decentralisation of power have boycotted this meeting,” he said. 

He added that offices will be constructed for the five new corporations. 

“Coordination with the government is necessary for all these tasks. In the coming days, all relevant departments and organisations such as BDA, BWSSB, BESCOM, and BMRCL, which provide services to Bengaluru’s citizens, will work in coordination with the GBA,” he said.  “All municipal commissioners must increase tax collection in their jurisdictions. They should prioritise waste disposal and cleanliness. Footpaths should be made as wide as possible.”

BUDGET FINALISED 

Shivakumar said that the budget for the City corporations had been finalised. 

“Previously, a corporation commissioner was allowed to spend up to Rs 1 crore; now, we have increased this limit to Rs 3 crores,” he said. ”Similarly, the council was restricted to spending within five crores, but we have now raised this limit to Rs 10 crores.” 

Shivakumar said that GBA meetings will be held at least once every three months. 

“We will also form a Central Coordination Committee,” he said. “Additionally, we have submitted a proposal for restructuring and formulating an action plan concerning several cooperative organisations.” 

ASHOKA UNIMPRESSED 

Opposition Leader R Ashoka at a press conference, termed the GBA as a “one man authority”, owing to the CM being at the helm.