Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M
Lakshminarayana has sought additional funds from the Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah, who is presenting the budget on July 12.

The Chief
Minister held a series of meeting with various departmental heads on
Thursday. Commissioner Lakshminarayana, who was also present during the
meeting, sought Rs 4,000 crore grants.

Speaking to Express, he
said that it is a normal process that civic agencies seek funds from the
government before the budget is presented. “With the CM presenting the
budget on July 12, we have placed our request,” he said.

The
Commissioner said that they need funds for both spillover works as well
as ongoing works. “We do not know how much the State government will
release. We will utilise the funds on priority basis,” he said.

When
asked about expectation from the new government, he said in the next
five years, government should grant at least Rs 15,000 crore.

Sources
in the BBMP said during his meeting with the CM, the Commissioner
explained about the funds released by the BJP government.

“Previous
government never released the amount announced during the State budget.
Every year, Chief Ministers of the BJP government announced anywhere
between Rs 700 crore and Rs 1,300 crore grants, but did not release the
funds. The Commissioner explained this situation to the CM,” official
sources said.

Commissioner also explained the amount that has be
paid to various contractors. Palike needs funds for various ongoing
works including road widening, removing silt from drains and other
emergency works.

Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy and team had met the CM
last week. “We are organising Kempe Gowda Jayanathi on June 29 and
inviting the Chief Minister. When he comes, we will present a memorandum
on the status of BBMP,” he said.