The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is strapped for funds, is counting heavily on grants from the State government. The civic body has mounting debts and pending bills to the tune of crores and is hoping that the government will earmark at least Rs. 1,500 crore for it in the 2012-13 budget to be presented on Wednesday.
Senior officials told The Hindu a delegation had met Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and apprised him of the BBMP's precarious financial condition. “We made a presentation on the development works that need to be taken up. We hope the government will permit us to take up these projects and allocates the funds,” an official said.
Spill-over works
A senior BJP councillor, who didn't want to be named, said though last year the BBMP had sought Rs. 1,300 crore from the government, it got around Rs. 500 crore. “Last year (2011-12), only programme of works was taken up. Most works which were taken up last year will be spill-over works for 2012-13.” The councillor also stated that the Chief Minister had assured them of a Rs. 1,000-crore grant.
With development in the city coming to more-or-less a standstill, it remains to be seen if the State government will throw a lifeline to the BBMP.
