The Hindu 19.11.2011
BBMP owes Rs. 85 crore to Libraries Department
Upset with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
which owes it Rs. 85 crore, the Department of Public Libraries has
written to the State Government to direct all municipal corporations not
to divert the library cess amount for any other purposes.
K.G. Venkatesha, Department Director, told
The Hindu
on the sidelines of a library inauguration at the Sri Jayadeva Institute
of Cardiovascular Sciences on Thursday the Rs. 85-crore arrears was an
accumulation of the 6 per cent library cess BBMP had collected from the
public over 20 years.
“Although some payment is made
now and then, BBMP has not been regularly clearing the dues. This has
affected our finances because of which we are not able to construct our
own library buildings. We have acquired 16 sites in the city but are
unable to construct as we don’t have a separate building fund. We are
dependent on the library cess,” Mr. Venkatesha said.
“Of
the 80 libraries in the city, only eight are housed in the department’s
own buildings; the rest are functioning in rented premises. We want to
set up a model city central library on the lines of the Anna Centenary
Library in Chennai and the early clearance of dues will of great help,”
he said.
Appeal
Mr.
Venkatesha has appealed to the Government to direct all municipal
corporations to open a non-operative account to deposit the library cess
collection.
Amount is an accumulation of the 6 per cent library cess collected through property tax
Of the 80 libraries in the city, only eight are housed in the department’s own buildings