Civic group demands ward panels

MANGALURU: Over 26 years after the 74th amendment to the Constitution in 1992 and the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act in 2011, that proposed for the constitutional requirement of forming ward committees, 10 of the 11 cities in the state are yet to implement this on the ground, said Kathyayini Chamaraj, executive trustee, CIVIC Bangalore.
The Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation was at the forefront of the fight for formation of ward committees to ensure decentralisation in letter and spirit, that saw the setting up of ward committees and area sabhas in Bengaluru.
According to the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Act, 2011, the councillor of each ward will head the 11-member ward committee and is supposed to meet every month.
However, this looks to be a distant dream even now.
"Lack of political will to empower people is the primary reason for non-implementation, as the leaders would be accountable for every action taken and every rupee spent," said Kathyayini.
Pinning hopes on the judiciary, that it would direct the Mangaluru City Corporation to introduce ward committees and area sabhas in the city, MCC Civic Group, a city-based group formed by like-minded people, has filed a public interest litigation around two weeks ago.
The matter is yet to come up for hearing in the high court. Activists said they will focus on compliance once the ball is set rolling.
The PIL is expected to be heard in the coming week.
Nigel Albuquerque, a member of the MCC Civic Group, said the PIL highlights the results of absence of ward committees with illustrations. Issues pertaining to drinking water supply and wastage of water, public sanitation and underground drainage and safety, are the other key aspects mentioned in the PIL.
It may be recalled that in October 2014, the Mangaluru City Corporation council, in a meeting, declined to constitute ward committees without giving any reasons.
Following this, the then mayor Mahabala Marla had constituted a three-member house committee headed by senior councillor Lancelot Pinto, to study its pros and cons.
However, the activists allege the house committee hasn't met even once in the last four years.
Pinto, the head of the house committee, was not available for comment.