Slums in Bengaluru likely to be redeveloped on lines of Mumbai, indicates Deputy CM

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recently instructed officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to form a committee to redevelop slums in Bengaluru on the lines of Mumbai.

Participating in the first meeting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority, he said, “There was an attempt to redevelop Shanthinagar slum but it was not successful. Hence, there is a hesitation to take up redevelopment. A committee is being formed to look into the redevelopment of slums in Bengaluru.”

He was replying to Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed who said that 480 slums in the city needed to be redeveloped.

Replying to a question by A C Srinivas on garbage collection, he said, “Tenders will be issued for 33 packages as soon as the courts clear it.”

Anekal and GBA

Replying to the Anekal MLA raising a request for inclusion of Anekal area in the GBA, he said, “Elections will be held for the current GBA areas. There onwards, we will form a committee to include new areas under the GBA.

The DCM also said that the Planning Authority has been transferred from the Bengaluru Development Authority to the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

“The first meeting of the GBA was held under the Chairmanship of the Chief Minister and many important decisions have been taken. We have decided to felicitate several officials involved in the formation of GBA,” he informed.

“We have also identified five locations for the construction of buildings for the five new corporations. The BBMP main office would become the office of the GBA. Until the new buildings are constructed, all five corporation offices would be accommodated in the GBA building. The structure of all five buildings would be the same,” he said.

“The financial limit has been increased for the new corporations. The limit for commissioners has been increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 3 crore. Standing committee limit has been increased from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore. The limit for the Mayor has been increased from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore. This is a historic decision,” he added.

“We have formed the GBA to give a new shape to Bengaluru. We have made the CM as the Chairman of the GBA, as the corporations needs the support of the state government. GBA also includes representatives from various agencies that govern Bengaluru,” Shivakumar said.

“Members of the GBA can give in suggestions on directions to be taken for a new Bengaluru. Politics will be avoided and the government is ready to sincerely evaluate all suggestions offered. The GBA has been formed taking inputs from all political parties. But some are criticising this for political reasons,” he added.

Asked about the exemptions on Occupancy Certificates and Completion Certificates, he said, “Currently, we have exempted sites measuring up to 30×40 feet from the need for CCs and OCs. We will take a decision on the other dimensions in the next meeting,” he added.