Govt cuts down BMP budget by Rs 130 crore

Govt cuts down BMP budget by Rs 130 crore
Deccan Herald

The State government on Monday approved the Rs 1,870-crore budget proposed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) last month. However, it is no reason to rejoice...

The State government on Monday approved the Rs 1,870-crore budget proposed by the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) last month. However, it is no reason to rejoice. The cash-strapped BMP will now have to make do with Rs 1,740 crore as the government has cut down discretionary funds including the mayor and deputy mayor’s grants.

The mayor’s fund has been reduced from Rs 25 crore to Rs five crore, while deputy mayor’s fund has been abolished. The taxation and finance committee members’ fund, women ward funds, ward development grant (Rs 10 crore) and grants for the leaders of ruling and Opposition parties have met with a similar fate.

Meanwhile the government has claimed that the budget outlay will remain the same as the amount deducted has been adjusted to the loan amount availed by the BMP.

The councillors who were already upset over the Commissioner’s proposal to cut down ward grants from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs one crore are in for a second shock. The Council had approved the budget on April 29, which was submitted to the government by the Commissioner on May 17.