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Financial Management

Revised budget to be bigger

Thursday, 09 September 2010 11:59 administrator
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The New Indian Express  09.09.2010

Revised budget to be bigger

BANGALORE: Notwithstanding the criticism the city council’s “unfeasible” budget has attracted, its outlay is expected to swell by `211 crore when its revised version is presented on Thursday.

Chairman of the BBMP’s Finance and Taxation Committee P N Sadashiva will present the revised budget, whose outlay is estimated to be around Rs 8,700 crore as against the original outlay of `8,488.54 crore.

Sources said grant for wards was increased by Rs 1 crore in the revised version as the councillors’ clamour for more funds for their wards had dominated the three-day discussions on the budget.

Also, efforts are being made to tax service apartments such as private hospitals to generate revenue for the BBMP.

BBMP properties that were given on lease at throwaway prices would be reviewed and charged as per current rates. Sources said the decision to auction Palike land would also be reconsidered and efforts would be made to retain them with the Palike.

During the three-day discussions on the budget, the Opposition parties had dismissed it as unrealistic and criticised it for depending heavily on loans.

They had alleged that the Palike had no money and the budget would further add to the burdens of the Palike’s loans.

Last Updated on Thursday, 09 September 2010 12:04
 

Budget outlay set to bloat

Thursday, 09 September 2010 11:20 administrator
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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.

Last Updated on Thursday, 09 September 2010 11:21
 

BBMP budget’s fate to be decided Thursday

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 07:30 administrator
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The New Indian Express  08.09.2010

BBMP budget’s fate to be decided Thursday

BANGALORE: The fate of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP’s) budget will be decided on Thursday.

Discussion on the budget concluded on Tuesday after three days of deliberation.

Many councillors made various suggestions to include in the budget. They requested the Mayor to provide more grants to the wards as most of the wards were newly added to the Palike and were underdeveloped.

They complained that the fund allocation to wards was not uniform and this would lead to imbalanced development in the city.

Govindraj of Jnana Bharati ward said the current efforts to curb the spread of mosquitoes and related diseases were inadequate even though the budget announced `4 crore to contain the same. At this point, Heganahalli councillor Govindegowda said he had dengue fever. He said he had to go through troubles to contain his condition and added that the common man had to go through worse.

Also, he complained that despite assurances of the BWSSB chairman regarding digging of borewells, no action was taken.

Gangenahalli councillor M Nagaraj said there should be more stress on improvement of quality of education and infrastructure in BBMP schools. He also suggested re-numbering of the properties in the city to avoid the discrepancy in census and voters lists. He pointed out that a skywalk should be built near Mekhri Circle and Windsor Square as the vehicle density is more than two lakh per day. Jayamahal Corporator Gunashekar seconded the opinion.

Ashwath of Kempe Gowda ward suggested that the 300 acre-lake in Yelahanka be revived so that there is ground water recharge and the place could serve as a tourist spot for people accessing the airport.

Other councillors raised issues about lack of schools and hospitals in their wards, under ground drainage system, lack of parks and basic facilities.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 08 September 2010 07:32
 
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