The Deccan Chronicle 09.09.2010
Budget outlay set to bloat
Bengaluru, Sept. 8: Even as the opposition in the BBMP council charges the ruling BJP with presenting an inflated budget with an outlay of Rs 8,488 crore, the outlay is set to go up again and touch a whopping Rs 8,750 crore.
The Opposition had earlier claimed that the BBMP Taxation and Finance chairman P.N. Sadashiva had presented the budget, anticipating unrealistic revenue as the BBMP does not have an enviable record in revenue collection in the past few years. They said that the BJP was trying to pacify the opposition by increasing ward grants and inflating the budget.
Sources in the BJP confirmed that the budget approval would be sought on Thursday in the council. After a discussion, the council would take up the exercise of ratifying the budget by increasing the ward grants for improving individual wards, said the sources.
If this happens, it is certain that BBMP will have to go for an additional loan of Rs 300 crore.
Already, BBMP has outstanding loans amounting to Rs 2,500 crore taken from various financial institutions. It is also planning to avail a loan of Rs 1,890 crore which will take the total deficit to Rs 4,700 crore.
Already, BJP has done its best to keep corporators belonging to the Opposition in good steed by giving them additional grants of Rs three crore. Corporators representing old wards have been given Rs two crore and those representing new wards have been allotted Rs 3 crore as ward grants.
Deputy mayor N. Dayanand who has been given funds of Rs 25 crore, has been demanding an additional Rs 25 crore, added the sources.
