Greater Bengaluru Governance Act: Karnataka To Implement Legislation On May 15 After BBMP Was Revoked Last Month

Greater Bengaluru Governance Act News: The Greater Bengaluru Governance Act (GBGA) 2024, aimed at the overhaul of the local governance, is likely to come into effect on May 15, the Indian Express reported. The new act will replace the existing Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palika(BBMP) Act 2021, as soon as the Karnataka Government implements it and will break the current civic body into multi-layer local corporations. 

According to the report, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil announced on Friday that a formal notification regarding the implementation of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Authority (GBGA) will be issued on May 15. The notification will outline the specifics of the GBGA's implementation. Although the exact number of corporations to be formed from the BBMP split is yet to be confirmed, the Act allows for the creation of up to seven corporations.

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An administrator will be appointed to oversee the division, with the existing BBMP commissioner expected to stay in charge during the transition period.

After raising queries in March, the Governor, Thaawarchand Gehlot, approved the legislation in April. With jurisdiction over the existing 709 sq km area of BBMP, the newly formed Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) will be chaired by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah. 

GBA’s responsibilities will range from urban planning, administrative coordination to the execution of large-scale infrastructure and mobility projects across Greater Bengaluru.

Before obtaining assent from the Governor, the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) members opposed the initiative as they staged the walkout, claiming the Bill violates the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which mandates the devolution of power to urban local bodies.