[Urbanstudy] DID KARNATAKA CM CON THE CONSTITUTION?

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/cover-story/Did-Karnataka-CM-con-the-Constitution/articleshow/52213061.cms





DID KARNATAKA CM CON THE
CONSTITUTION?
Bangalore Mirror Bureau | May 11, 2016, 04.00 AM IST
[image: Did Karnataka CM con the Constitution?]
*'Vision Group' runs foul of amendment which mandates a Metropolitan
Planning Committee*


Despite claiming to be 'Mr Constitution' himself, chief minister
Siddaramaiah's decision to constitute his 'Vision Group' for the city, is
already sailing into rough weather.
While he is facing severe backlash for the overriding of constitutional
provisions, and not including the mayor of Bengaluru in the Vision Group
(the government corrected that and the mayor has since been included) it is
the decision to ignore the existence of the Metropolitan Planning
Commission and form a parallel group, helmed by business tycoons that has
come in for criticism.

Recalling that the previous vision group (the BATF) failed to deliver,
several elected representatives and civic activists have slammed the
government stating that the present committee comprises more or less the
same set of personalities and will serve no purpose in the development of
the city.

The 74th amendment to the constitution calls for the formation of a
Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) -- with the chief minister at its
head -- for the proper development of a city. However, the government's
decision to ignore a functioning MPC and form an extra-constitutional body
goes against the spirit of the constitution, say activists.

Rajiv Chandrashekar, MP, Rajya Sabha, said, "The focus of the government
must be on fixing broken governance and rampant corruption across
Bengaluru. The first vision must be to operationalise the MPC as mandated
by law and constitution. The CM must not make this a mere photo
opportunity; instead make this group a part of the MPC and hold them
accountable."

The opposition has also cried foul over the government's decision to
overrule the MPC. "The government seems to have no knowledge of the MPC.
Being the chairperson of MPC, the CM is not showing any interest in its
functioning," said S Suresh Kumar, former Law minister and BJP MLA.

Another BJP MLA from Jayanagar, BN Vijay Kumar, said, "The people of
Bengaluru have already seen what the Siddaramaiah government has done to
the city. Despite being in power in both the state and the BBMP, the
government slept on Bengaluru's problems for the last three years. Now
towards the fag end of its tenure, the
government wants to project itself as the saviour of the IT city."




*Disasters like Richmond Circle flyover are bound to happen if experts
aren't part of urban planning*
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