BENGALURU: The fate of erstwhile Congress party’s flagship project Indira Canteen is uncertain as it is caught between the state government and the BBMP. In the absence of fund allocation for running the canteen from the state government or from the civic body, the BBMP is eagerly awaiting the state government to announce a grant to get the canteen moving.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah had in his 2017 budget earmarked Rs 100 crore for the Indira Canteen project. The canteen incurred an expenditure of Rs 124 crore in 2017-18. Later, the state government released Rs 115 crore for 2018-19. The civic body has spent just Rs 58 crore over the last two years for running the canteen. However, no funds have been allocated for running it in the 2019-20 state budget.
The BBMP has been hoping that the government will release funds to run the canteen project. The civic body has been demanding the Urban Development department to release Rs 58 crore that was spent over the last two years and another Rs 152 crore to run the canteen this year.
“But the UDD has stated that it will not release any funds for the canteen. It looks like that the canteens have to be run by the BBMP. All top officials, BBMP Mayor, corporators and others will be meeting on Friday to discuss this. Maybe, we will get a clear picture after the meeting” said a BBMP official.
Demand for ward or constituency-wise tenders. The contract to run Indira Canteen which provides for subsidized food to the poor ends on August 16. Demands have been pouring in to make amendments and to go for ward-wise or constituency-wise tenders.
Two big players - NGO Rewards and Chef Talk had bagged the contract and food has been supplied from centralized kitchens since the inception of Indira Canteen in 2017.
Corporators and city MLAs are now demanding that the contract be given to self-help groups and locals who will not only get empowered but also serve quality food following the widespread flak that the food served at Indira Canteen got right from day one.
BBMP Mayor Ms Gangambike told DC that a meeting will be held on Friday to take suggestions from the 198 corporators and the MLAs of 28 constituencies from Bengaluru.
“Some corporators have suggested ward-wise tenders to encourage locals to run the canteen while the MLAs have insisted that the tenders be at the constituency level” she said.
The general opinion is that food should get cooked in the individual canteens. If locals cook, good quality food will be on offer, Ms Gangambike said.
