BBMP councillors once again created a ruckus over non-release of medical grants in the Council meeting on Monday.
Councillors have been demanding funds under the Mayor’s medical grants to dispose of more than 4,000 applications pending before the civic body.
Siddapura councillor M Udayshankar said the original bills of the patients seeking funds are at the Mayor’s office. “Give them back. At least, they can seek funds from the Chief Minister’s office,” he said.
Supporting him, Opposition leader Manjunath Reddy said, “The Mayor and BBMP Commissioner lied to us every month. The Commissioner assures of releasing funds, but they are not released yet,” he alleged.
In reply, Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said he has issued a circular to all the zonal commissioners to release `2 lakh per ward for medical grants last month.
“It is up to you (councillors). Councillors are the deciding authority on spending amount. Our officials will oblige and release the amount as recommended,” he said. However, Congress and JD(S) councillors rejected his claim.
“While the Commissioner claimed that he had issued a circular in this regard, the zonal commissioners are telling that they are yet to receive any communication,” Srinagar councillor Thimmegowda said.
The Commissioner said he will direct the Finance Department to release funds on a priority basis.
However, later, non-BJP councillors said `2 lakh per ward will not be sufficient to dispose of all the applications. They stormed into the well of the House and demanded an additional `5 crore from the Mayor’s grants. Following this, the Mayor directed the Commissioner to clear all pending applications soon.
Mayor, ex-mayor trade barbs
Former mayor D Venkatesh Murthy said, “Every time you (Mayor) announce the release of funds for medical aid, we tap benches appreciating it. But it will not be released.” In reply, Sathyanarayana said, “If you (Murthy) had disposed of applications, problems would not have increased.”