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Financial Management

Uncertainty looms large over BBMP budget

Tuesday, 12 October 2010 09:46 administrator
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The New Indian Express  12.10.2010

Uncertainty looms large over BBMP budget

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) budget for the year 2010 may have been approved by the state government, but with only six months left in the one-year term of the Mayor and the finance committee chairman, many projects may not even see the light of day.

“At least 50 per cent of the works mentioned would be completed within our term,” said P N Sadashiva, Chairman, Finance and Taxation Committee. He said most of the works would start at the earliest and the rest would spill-over to the next year’s budget.

Meanwhile, the zonal heads have also been asked to send the programme of works to the commissioner, which has to be reviewed and then discussed in the standing committee before being approved by the council — a process that could take weeks or even months.  

Mayor S K Nataraj, on August 30, 2010, presented a budget of `8,848 crore, though there was only `424 crore with the Palike. The ruling party banked on the state government for grants of nearly `1500 crore but it is yet to be announced by the government. The Palike also hoped to get `800 crore from Akrama-Sakrama scheme that still awaits the Governor’s approval.

However, Sadashiva said, “Now that the government approved the budget, it is binding on them to give us the promised grant.” He also said that the Akrama-Sakrama scheme has only been temporarily sent back and would be approved at the earliest.  

Expressing doubts about the works being completed on time, Opposition leader in the council, M Nagaraju said, “Not even 10 to 15 per cent of the promised works will be completed by the ruling party.” He said though they had expected to get over `2000 crore as grants from the government and from the Akrama-Sakrama scheme, so far nothing was sanctioned.

“The CM and the Mayor got the budget approved, uncertain of whether the government would survive the confidence vote,” he said adding that the Congress  would submit a detailed complaint to the Governor, pointing out the irregularities in the council.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 October 2010 09:48
 

Government okays BBMP's Rs. 8,848-crore budget

Tuesday, 12 October 2010 06:31 administrator
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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.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 October 2010 06:33
 

Octroi hits landmark at 2,428 cr

Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:26 administrator
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Indian Express   06.10.2010

Octroi hits landmark at 2,428 cr

Stuti Shukla Tags : BMC, octroi Posted: Wed Oct 06 2010, 01:18 hrs

Mumbai:  The first half of the financial year has brought good news for the cash-strapped BMC with octroi collection Rs 250 crore higher than that for the same period last year.

The collection of Rs.2,428.17 crore from April 1 to October 4 is, in fact, the highest for this in the past four years. The collection for the year’s first half was Rs.1916.91 crore in 2007-08, Rs.2,335.83 crore in 2008-09, and Rs 2,178.29 crore last year.

Officials with the BMC’s assessment and collection department have attributed the 12 per cent increase in to increased import of crude oil and gas.

The department has revised its annual octroi collection target from Rs 4,000 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 4,775 crore for the current year.

Octroi collection is one of the largest sources of revenue for the civic body, constituting almost 23 per cent of the total annual budget of Rs.21,000 crore.

Chief assessor and collector Vasant Pandhere said a considerable increase in the import of crude oil and gas into the city, coupled with an increase in the quantum of goods brought into the city through the five octroi nakas, have resulted in the higher collection trend. Crude oil collection in the first half increased to Rs 817 crore from last year’s Rs 695 crore.

Collection increased by 10.68 per cent, from Rs 1,209.44 crore in the first half of 2009-10 to Rs 1,338.55 crore in the current year, at the five octroi nakas: LBS check naka and Eastern Express Highway check naka at Mulund, Dahisar octroi naka, Vashinaka octroi naka in Mankhurd and Airoli octroi naka. Oil companies such as HPCL, BPCL, IOC and ONGC are the largest importers of crude oil in Mumbai, contributing a large share of the octroi collection.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 06 October 2010 11:27
 
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