Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s proposal to constitute an elite advisory group to invigorate the tech city’s infrastructure has kicked off a debate on the need for such a task force.
It may be recalled that in 1999, then CM S.M. Krishna set up the Bengaluru Agenda Task Force (BATF), headed by Nandan Nilekani, former CEO of Infosys.
In 2010, then CM B.S. Yediyurappa set up a similar team called Agenda for Bengaluru Infrastructure and Development (ABIDe). However, the team never met, and ceased to exist when Mr. Yediyurappa stepped down.
When Mr. Yediyurappa returned as CM in 2019, he did not reconstitute the team, and neither did his successor Basavaraj Bommai.
On June 5, after reviewing Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) developmental activities, Mr Shivakumar told reporters at Vidhana Soudha: “I have decided to form an advisory group that existed when Mr. Krishna was the CM. Individuals like N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, contributed immensely through investments and generating employment, accelerating the growth (of the city). The new advisory group will have people alike Mr Murthy.”
Wise move by Govt.
T V Mohandas Pai, former CFO and Ex-director of Infosys said the BATF had contributed immensely to the growth of the city and proposal of similar committee is a welcome move.
Mr. Pai said the city now has to focus on future improvements - to make Bengaluru - a global high tech city. Besides tackling infrastructural woes, better governance which is closer to citizens. For this city planners needs to move in different strategic directions for which which this advisory group will come in handy.
Some of critics argue that the ideas presented by this elite group does not represent entire population and in democracy the government’s policy, civic and infrastructure consultation should be broader. The government after seeking suggestions and ideas from this committee should hold consultation with legislators, citizen groups and ward committees. Through this the criticism can be quelled, he said.
The government should consult this high power team for big improvements and same can be discussed with other stakeholders later. Not all have the ability to come up with big ideas and hence such teams are formed due to their expertise. He added that Bengaluru should be divided into five corporations to move governance closer to citizens.
Rahul Kadri, Partner and Principal Architect at IMK Architects, and architecture and urban design practice founded in 1957, based in Mumbai and Bengaluru lauding the move said this is a fantastic effort by the government. In metro cities the government has to enhance quality of life of citizens. With this move the advisory committee would facilitate the state to enhance tech city’ global image.
Mr Kadri further said the committee should be comprised of urban planners, landscape designers and architects. The scope for improving mobility infrastructure in Bengaluru is large and government can use their expertise. For instance interlinking multi-mode transportation to ease commute can be achieved through coordination between different agencies. Enhancement of metro travel can be done by laying underground metro lines as infrastructure will not be needing land aquisition and many more.
Advisory body versus Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Authority
Srinivas Alavilli, a citizen activist talking to The Hindu said citizen participation in urban local governance has been enshrined in our constitution for 30 years now in the form of Area Sabhas, Ward Committees with the passing of the 74th Constitutional Amendment. However, it has not been realized anywhere due to lack of political will and disempowered local governance structures.
Mr. Alavilli said city Councillors and Mayors are not empowered due to a multitude of agencies running our city with no clear accountability mechanisms. Local problems can only be addressed locally and ward level governance is extremely important especially in a mega city like Bengaluru with 1.5 crore population. Citizen participation ensures transparency, enables monitoring of public spend and most importantly, helps plan development work bottom up.
A task force at a city level is useful, but it needs to be inclusive and within the legal framework available for everyone. The MPC (Metropolitan Planning Committee) and the BMLTA both have the ability to involve citizens in policy making. Earlier task forces did make good contributions, but they are ad-hoc in nature and tend to be exclusive. “Our biggest challenge is the climate crisis as unseasonal heavy rains in May cause flooding, potholes and disease. Government must enlist support of domain experts as well as eminent individuals to collectively find practical solutions keeping the future in mind.” Mr Alivilli opinied.
Sandeep Anirudhan, a civic activist, told The Hindu that while BATF introduced a few changes for the better, ABIde never held a single meeting before it ceased to exist.
Stressing on the constitutional validity of such committees, he said as long as task forces or committees are not institutionalised under the law, the members, however influential they may be, cannot bring about any change. The changes suggested by these groups can be reversed when a new government takes over. The Congress government has to focus on implementing the 74th amendment to the Constitution that mandates formation of a planning authority for the local and city governing bodies.
The changes brought in the system by an authority that enjoys legal sanctity will always be protected by the law. It is not easy for new governments to scrap such changes. The Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Authority (BMPA) is the need of the hour.
On the other hand, in an advisory body, an influential group tries to push their agenda and consultants. The group does not represent the interests of all sections of society, but their own. The task forces will have a top-to-bottom approach, while BMPA approach will be bottom-to-top.
Powers of bureaucracy will not be diluted
A senior IAS officer serving in key posts in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) revealed that, during a meeting with officials, Mr Shivakumar assured that decision-making powers of bureaucracy will not be diluted, and he will not allow the advisory group to arm-twist IAS officers. Mr Shivakumar also acknowledged that, in the past, such teams made attempts to dominate decision-making spaces and pushed their own agendas to serve their interests.
The officer added that the proposal was made with a view of making governance inclusive. The advisory group will be restricted to seeking suggestions and feedback for the projects planned by Karnataka.
