BBMP Eight zones are underdeveloped knot

 BBMP: A centralized system; Controlled by the Chief Commissioner

 BBMP Eight zones are underdeveloped knot

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

 BENGALURU: Realizing that the 800 square kilometer area of BBMP cannot be managed by a central office, it has been divided into eight zones, but even after a decade, the zones continue to suffer due to lack of power and development funds.

 When the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Corporation was formed, a rule was made that the 'large area' that came under the jurisdiction of the city should be left to the local administration without sitting at the central office at Narasimharaja Chowk. However, even though senior IAS grade officers were appointed as Zonal Commissioners, local administration did not get a chance. Instead, everything is being controlled by the Chief Commissioner sitting in the central office.

 After the formation of BBMP, joint commissioners were appointed for eight zones. Zone-wise Sub-Revenue Divisions were created and empowered. They were identified as ward works and directed to carry them out. However, there would have been nothing in the budget except ₹2 crore each for the wards. Planning, road infrastructure, large waterways, technical cell, forest, lake, urban planning, including overbridges, underpasses were managed by the engineers sitting in the central office leaving eight zones and they are still in charge.

 The government decided to restructure the zones as development would not be possible if they remained like this. Senior IAS officers were made Zonal Commissioners instead of Joint Commissioners. The Joint Commissioner was directed to handle the revenue department only. However, the Zonal Commissioner seems to have no work to do. Their work is only a few crore works called ward works, rain water control, property tax collection. 

It seems that there is no staff to work in BBMP which is full of senior IAS officers. Apart from commissioners for eight zones, IAS officers have also been assigned to revenue, advertisement, TDR, climate change, planning, administration, finance, IT, election and education departments. Even so, development work is not being managed by BBMP. If there are new corporations, the number of these IAS will increase further.

 Conflict is more: 

Even if there are IAS officers for eight zones, the unachievable development and uncontrollable problems will be solved if there are five corporations. Mayor, deputy mayor, committee, officials, all expenses will be excessive and people will not get any benefit. There is also an opinion that there is a possibility of increasing the daily conflict due to discrimination in fund distribution and income.

 There is no separate budget for the zone

 The government took a decision to present the budget separately for the eight zones to allow them to carry out necessary development works. Accordingly, senior IAS officers were posted to the zones. However, even after two years, the separate budget has not been implemented. During the preparation of the budget, proposals are submitted for necessary works and grants from the sectors. No one considers them. Everything is decided by the officers and ministers sitting in the central office and the budget is prepared.

 Confusion in allotment of wards

 The confusion in the allocation of wards to the zones has not been resolved even after a decade. The situation is the same as when there were 198 wards, now the same situation continues in 225 wards. East and South zones have 44 wards each, while West zone has 46 wards. The number of wards in each of the remaining five constituencies does not exceed 24. Dasarhalli assembly constituency is divided into one zone. There should have been a lot of development in this zone with 11 wards. However, the works are not being done here due to the number of officers. Without the target of development, the zonal authorities are building roads, drains and laying asphalt with the funds brought by the legislators.

• 8; Zone in BBMP
•  28; Assembly constituencies
•  225; No. of wards

 Zone: Yalahanka – 2

 Assembly Constituencies: Yelahanka- 4, Batarayanpur- 10

 Wards: 14

 Zone: Mahadevpur – 2

 Constituency: K.R. Pura – 11, Mahadevpur – 11

 Wards: 22

 Zone: Dasarahalli–1

 Constituency: Dasarahalli-11

 Wards: 11

 Zone: Rajarajeshwari Nagar–2

 Constituencies: Rajarajeshwarinagar- 12, Yeshavantpura- 8

 Wards: 20

 Zone: West – 6

 Constituency: Malleshwar- 7, Rajajinagar- 6, Gandhinagar- 7, Chamarajpet- 7, Govindarajanagar- 9, Mahalakshmi Layout- 8

 Wards: 44

 Zone: South – 6

 Constituencies: Vijayanagar – 9, Basavanagudi – 6, Padmanabhanagar – 8, BTM Layout – 9, Jayanagar – 6, Chikkapet – 6

 Wards: 44

 Zone: East – 6

 Constituencies: Hebbala- 8, Pulakeshinagar- 7, Sarvajnanagar- 10, C.V. Raman Nagar – 8, Shantinagar – 7, Shivajinagar – 6

 Wards: 44

 Zone: Bommanahalli – 3

 Constituencies: Bommanahalli – 12, Bangalore South – 11, Anekal – 1

 Wards: 24