BENGALURU: With no clarity on the division of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the ruling BJP in the civic body is all set to present the budget next month.
Mayor Shantha Kumari told Express. “We are likely to present the budget in February. I have asked the officials to prepare accordingly and list out fund mobilisation,” she said.
Mixed Response
The plan has evoked a mixed response from both ruling and opposition party members. Former opposition party leader M K Gunashekar said the budget should be presented before financial year end according to the Karnataka Muncipal Corporations Act.
“Once it is presented and approved by the (BBMP) council, it will go to the state government. The government can accept or reject it.”
A Congress councillor said BJP has failed to present the budget on time for the last five years. “They have always presented the budget during July-August. Now that the Council term will end in April, they are in a hurry to present the budget. Their budgets were never realistic. Even if they present a budget on time this year, our government will not approve the unrealistic budget,” he said.
Ruling party leader N R Ramesh reiterated that the budget will be presented in February. But this will not include the programme of civic works and special grants. It will cover expenditure for salaries, some essential works like solid waste management, emergency grants, park and electrical maintenance and other expenses.
“The budget size will not exceed `3,000 crore,” he added.
However, a BJP councillor said as the mayoral and sanding committee elections were not held on time in the last five years, the budget too was not presented on time. “Also, realistic budgets were not presented, which is why we could not implement the programmes. Now, as the present term comes to an end, even if we present a realistic or unrealistic budget, it will have no value,” he added.