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Bengaluru, Oct 10 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP on Friday criticized the Congress-led state government for holding the first meeting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), saying the functioning of the GBA was not being managed properly.
Speaking to the media at Jagannath Bhavan, the state BJP office in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly and BJP leader R. “It seems that the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which deals with local bodies, has been ignored,” Ashok said.
LOP Ashoka criticized the Congress-led state government saying that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was personally approving development projects, creating new five civic corporations and acting like a “one man authority” in planning works.
He asked why there is a need for five corporations when the Planning Authority is in charge.
The engineer appointed as CEO will also handle tenders for the development of Bengaluru’s infrastructure and build projects like metro lines and underpass tunnels, he said.
He mocked the system, saying that the Chief Minister himself recommends it and comparing it to the “hand-to-pocket” practice.
The opposition leader said that the approval of the Legislative Council should have been sought and sent through the Mayor, but now it has been sidelined.
He alleged that road development works will be approved in this very meeting, due to which the corporations will become redundant.
LOP Ashok also criticized the Congress government for issuing advertisements in all newspapers using public funds while local MLAs were not invited to the event, calling it a violation of the Constitution.
He claimed that this practice is happening in all the assembly constituencies of the state.
The state government called a meeting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) on Friday.
LOP Ashok asked whether it could be called a government meeting, saying the government needed to follow law, order and the Constitution.
He said officials informed him about the meeting via phone on Thursday, sent the agenda in the afternoon and held the meeting at 4 pm – without any proper notice.
He stressed that as per GBA rules the notice should have been given at least seven days in advance.
LOP Ashok asked how filling of potholes and smooth movement of vehicles is linked with development, highlighting that garbage is still spread on major roads where buses and other vehicles frequent.
He challenged the Congress-led state government to reveal the real purpose of the GBA meeting.
He also criticized that no grants have been given in the last two and a half years; Although Rs 25 crore was announced three months ago, the funds have not been released yet.
He cited newspaper reports claiming “full-scale development” for Bengaluru, while MLA S. Raghu reportedly said that government orders have not been issued.
LOP Ashok asked when the approval would come, noting that government funds may not be released until December.
He questioned the availability of the hall for council meetings, especially with the plan to have five corporations.
Barring Bengaluru Central, the LoP asked where a council meeting could be held for 120 people.
There are 20 nominated members, 40 officials, and 30 media personnel, he said, asking where halls with a capacity of 200 people existed and whether the meeting complied with the law.
“We have fought in the Legislative Council and have now filed a PIL as per the legal process,” he said.
In the media briefing, MLA SR Vishwanath, S. Muniraju, S. Raghu; Legislative Council member Gopinath Reddy; And BJP District President S. Harish (Bengaluru North) and Saptagiri Gowda (Bengaluru Central).
–IANS
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