Bengaluru: A day after his remarks on infrastructure in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout (NPKL) during an interaction with allottees went viral on social media, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) commissioner P Manivannan alleged that a “broker mafia” was behind the campaign and was attempting to derail the authority’s newly introduced transparency measures.In a post on X, Manivannan said he was “not the target” and claimed the real target was BDA’s move towards greater transparency, including conducting review meetings on live camera. He said such a system had become a “nightmare” for BDA brokers who had allegedly benefited from an opaque system in which the public was made to run from “pillar to pillar” and forced to grease the palms of officials.Manivannan alleged that vested interests were trying to stop live-camera meetings and push BDA back into the “clutches of the brokers”. He also claimed a short clip from an NPKL progress review meeting had been selectively circulated instead of the complete proceedings and minutes.The controversy erupted after a video clip of his interaction with NPKL allottees went viral. Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar shared the clip and criticised what he described as the commissioner’s “strange interpretation” of BDA’s responsibility for basic amenities. Manivannan later said his remarks had been taken out of context and that the discussion concerned additional roads and connectivity measures not envisaged in the original plan. BDA said the meeting specifically dealt with demands for additional underpasses and improved connectivity along the major arterial road through NPKL.The authority also clarified that internal water-supply and underground drainage infrastructure has been completed across the layout, except in a few pockets under litigation. Actual water supply will be provided by BWSSB, with BDA responsible for infrastructure and coordination.In its latest X post, BDA said Manivannan had assured that “whatever has been promised by BDA” would be fulfilled within the stipulated timeline. It said significant works had been completed over the past year and allottees’ concerns were being systematically followed up.Clip taken out of context: ForumManivannan’s “broker mafia” allegation has not been independently established. Sairam KA, vice-president of the NPKL Open Forum, said the forum had no direct knowledge of such a mafia, though allegations had appeared in media reports. “If indeed it exists, the transparency brought in by the BDA chairperson and commissioner would seem threatening to them,” he said.He added that the viral clip was taken out of context and did not reflect the broader dialogue. The forum is expected to meet Suresh Kumar next Wednesday to present its views.
