The Hindu 12.10.2010
Government okays BBMP's Rs. 8,848-crore budget
Staff Reporter
| Opposition says ‘over-inflated budget' approval hurried through |
It was sent to the Government on September 29
‘BBMP cannot expect Rs. 1,500-crore grant'
Bangalore: The State Government approved the Rs. 8,848-crore budget of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) on October 8, said P.N. Sadashiva, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance.
Though the budget was presented on August 30, it was sent to the State Government on September 29 for approval.
He attributed the delay in transcribing the six-day budget proceedings to the BBMP Council section.
Along with the approval, the Government placed three prerequisites before the BBMP.
“The Government has directed the BBMP to immediately deposit the cesses collected, including beggary, library and health, under the account heads. The civic authority has also been directed to strengthen revenue generation. The Government has also ruled out release of increased grants (than what is mentioned in the budget),” he added.
The BBMP will urge the Government to accord approval to the Rs. 860-crore loan that the BBMP hoped to avail over and above the budget. “The council has approved the Rs. 250-crore loan, pending government approval. For the remaining amount, we will urge the Government to accord approval,” he said.
The inflated budget has drawn flak from the Opposition parties in the BBMP Council. Members of the Opposition claim that with the fate of the BJP Government hanging in a balance, the BBMP cannot expect Rs. 1,500-crore grant from it (Government) and Rs. 750 crore through the implementation of the Akrama Sakrama scheme.
M. Nagaraj, Opposition Leader in the BBMP Council, said that the Government has approved the budget in a hurried manner. He said that by not even making a remark on the grants the BBMP expects from it, the State Government has only mounted troubles on the citizens.
“The ruling party presented an inflated budget only so that a huge loan can be taken on it. With the Government not questioning this, the citizens will now have to bear the added burden,” he said.
He said that he would urge the Governor to order a probe into the various irregularities during the Administrator's period.
