Bengaluru: After three days of an acrimonious debate over the BBMP’s budget  for 2013-14 including criticism of the Palike’s shoddy performance in garbage management and revenue collection, the corporation council approved the budget on Wednesday. Mayor D. Venkatesh Murthy had presented the budget a few days ago with an outlay of Rs. 8,521.1 crore.

Following suggestions and criticism from various quarters Murthy  made certain changes in the grants and funds allocated for other works and increased the size of the budget by Rs 54 lakh. The revised budget  has been sent to the state government for approval.

It was not just the opposition which pointed out  lacunae in the Budget. Even BJP corporator representing Chamarajpet ward, B.V. Ganesh criticized the budget saying he was only pointing out mistakes made by the officials.

The receipts or revenue projections of the BBMP are lower compared ot the  previous years. For instance, the estimated revenue from development charges or improvement fee for the year 2011-12 was Rs 251 crore but this year, the estimated revenue has been shown at Rs 101 crore. Ganesh wondered if the city had faced a natural calamity to force BBMP officials to estimate lower revenue from development charges.

“These comments should be taken in the right spirit and not as criticism. The budget documents expose the lack of commitment on the part of officials,” Ganesh said forcing Venkatesh Murthy to admit anomalies in the estimated revenue from each department.

Former mayor S. K. Nataraj expressed his displeasure over the apathy of BBMP officials which led to the garbage crisis across the city. The officials have repeatedly failed to take corrective measures, he said adding that even the Israel model for disposal of solid waste in a scientific manner was not considered by the officials.

Yediyur corporator N.R. Ramesh referred to the fact that in the last one decade, BBMP has spent Rs. 17.8 crore on aspalting work. The road network in Karnataka and Kerala both put together is about 3.7 lakh kms.

Considering the money spent on city roads, the entire road network in Kerala and Karnataka could have been developed, he quipped adding that the city needs to put together its road history to avoid duplication of work.

In reply, BBMP commissioner M. Lakshminarayan said an official committee will be constituted to look into road asphalting and the money spent on it.