In an unusual move, senior IAS officer Mr Rakesh Singh of Karnataka Cadre, has been bestowed with the charge of the chairman of 12 planning boards, including the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Mr Singh heads the Urban Development Department (UDD) at present.
According to a government notification, Mr Singh has been given additional charge as chairman of 12 corporations – Bangalore Development Authority, Ramanagara Urban Development Authority, Anekal Planning Authority, Hoskote Planning Authority, Bengaluru International Airport Area Planning Authority, Doddaballapur Planning Authority, Magadi Planning Authority, Channapatna Planning Authority, Kanakapura Planning Authority, Nelamangala Planning Authority, Satellite Town Ring Road Planning Authority and Greater Bengaluru-Bidadi Smart City Planning Authority.
The post of an urban body chairman is a non-executive position, generally given to political leaders, particularly MLAs who could not be accommodated in the state Cabinet. Since the new government has just taken charge and the Cabinet was recently expanded, the regular appointment might take some time, that’s why Mr Singh has been entrusted with additional responsibilities.
Besides these 12 posts, Mr Singh will continue to hold the charge of Administrator at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources department.
