Bengaluru: As furore against the Bengaluru Blueprint Action Group (BBAG) continues, the demand for Bengaluru Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) is steadily gaining momentum.
However, with 18 corporators on board and many politicians at the helm, the present MPC seems only a namesake. Although RWA members, civic activists and urban experts should have played a major role in functioning of the MPC, the reluctant state government hastily held elections when the High Court gave a 48-hour deadline to nominate members for the MPC.
While BBAG, an additional execution body is welcome, the state government has ignored the MPC. BBAG member R.K Misra said that those protesting against BBAG should fight for both MPC and BBAG, instead of fighting only against BBAG.
“Those in favour of MPC should not be threatened by BBAG as the MPC is a planning body, while BBAG is a monitoring and executive body. The action group will concentrate on executing the projects that are in the pipeline. No matter which government comes and goes, the MPC is for keeps, whereas the BBAG may not withstand a new leadership,” Mr Misra said.
As the state government continues to maintain that BBAG will not replace the MPC, but will only function as an additional committee, it should now be seen whether the Siddaramaiah government will also give thrust to the MPC along with BBAG.
