Bengaluru: This year's budget is nothing but a replica of the previous year's budget presented by former chairman for Taxation and Finance Shivaraj, said Leader of opposition at the BBMP, Padmanabha Reddy, during the budget session on Monday.
He asked why spill-over and pending works have not been mentioned in the budget book. “This year's outlay is Rs 9,241 crore. Spillover works and pending bills cross Rs 10,000 crore. Then, how will the Palike manage with Rs 9,241? How will the civic body settle that huge amount,” he asked.
“CM Siddaramaiah has boasted of releasing Rs 7,300 crore for 2016-17 and 2017-18. According to me, only Rs 1,000 crore has been released. Even corporators don’t know the status of the remaining Rs 6,300 crore. We are answerable to the people. If we are kept in the dark, what can we tell our people,” Mr Reddy lamented.
Opposition members welcomed the move to replace the Karnataka Municipal Council Act, 1976, with BBMP Act and demanded that the opinion of people’s representatives too should be taken while drafting it.
Stale meals
BBMP's much-touted hot meals managed by Iskcon is serving stale food, alleged Ms Prathiba Dhanraj, corporator of the Dharmaraya Swamy Temple ward. She had brought the food packed in a cover to show it to the mayor and council members.
“Just because the food is served to pourakarmikas, Iskcon should not serve stale food. Even three days ago they had supplied bisi bele bath which had only vegetables and no rice,” she said.
Mayor Padmavathi ordered that the food sample should be sent to a lab for testing and said, “Even we are getting complaints from various places. We will conduct random checks and take needed action.”
