Bangalore: Misgivings about the formation of Greater Bangalore continue to exist with the State Government doing nothing to allay the fears. But the reorganisation of the city requires formation of a Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC) as per the 74th amendment to the Constitution.

Although the State Government should have formed the committee after the amendment was passed in 1992, it had not happened yet. "Bangalore is growing outwards and more and more areas surrounding the city are being urbanised. While merging the eight urban local bodies and surrounding villages might be a temporary solution, what will happen when the city grows further from these places?" asks Swati Ramanathan, co-founder of Janaagraha. A report on urban reforms, brought out by the second Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by Chairman Veerappa Moily, makes out a strong case for the committee.

"Town and country have to share the various physical and economic resources of the district such as communications, water resources and market places. Allocation of water for irrigation, drinking or industry is already a contentious issue in many districts. The district needs a platform to umpire and resolve these issues," the report says.

It calls for a permanent Metropolitan Planning Committee as opposed to the one provided for in the Constitution where the MPC ceases to exist once a plan is formed. The committee has been suggested as the answer to planning and co-ordination at the regional level.

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