Oppn stages walkout over Greater Bangalore issue

Bangalore, Apr 12: The Karnataka Legislative Assembly today passed by voice vote the Karnataka Urban Corporations (Amendment) Bill to enable increasing the number of corporators from 100 to 150 following the Greater Bangalore area being notified, even as the Congress members, led by Leader of the Opposition N Dharam Singh, staged a walkout against the 'inadequate reply' by the Government.

Tabling the Bill, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy allayed the fears of the Opposition that the Bill was introduced in haste and said the Government had done enough preparations keeping in view the expansion of the city. Various works, including taking up a drinking water supply and waste water management scheme, would be taken up in Greater Bangalore, he explained.

He said investors continued to flock the city and the number of foreign dignitaries visiting the city was also increasing. The Government was cautious in allotting land to the investors, keeping in view the spiralling costs of the land in the city, he added.

When Speaker Krishna put the Bill to vote, Mr Singh and other Congress members staged a walkout against the inadequate reply of the Chief Minister. Later, the Bill was passed by voice vote.

UNI