BANGALORE: While most of the city corporations across the state have successfully presented annual budget for 2012-13, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is yet to take action. Last year, the Palike had presented its annual budget in August, which was approved by the state government in September. The government had then warned the Palike to present the budget in time.
However, the Palike doesn't seem to have learnt much from its mistake despite getting orders from the government.
Section 170 of Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act states, “The corporation shall finally pass the budget estimate at least three weeks before the beginning of the year to which it relates and shall forth with submit a copy there of to the Government.”
Though the new financial year has began, as per the Act, BBMP has delayed the budget by one month. BR Nanjundappa, ruling party president, said, “After the elections for Mayor’s post is completed, we will elect the chairman for standing committees. The new chairman for the Standing Committee (Taxation and Finance) will present the budget for the year 2012-13 within May 10.”
He added that the draft copy of the budget was ready and its presentation would not be delayed unlike previous years. A senior councillor from Congress said that when they were in power, budget was always presented on time. “Not just during our period, even when Palike was under administrator’s rule, budget was presented in the month of February,” the councillor said.