The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) 2014-15 budget with an outlay of Rs. 7,778.03 crore was approved by the Council on Monday.
The budget, which was presented by chairperson of Standing Committee for Taxation and Finance M.S. Shivaprasad on February 17, was hailed as being a realistic one by the ruling party (BJP), while the Opposition Congress and Janata Dal (S) labelled it as a “bogus budget.”
After three days of discussions, the budget was approved with minor changes. While the outlay has not changed, the only significant change is the increase in the Mayor’s grant from Rs. 125 crore to Rs. 150 crore.
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A few other changes include allocation of Rs. 3 crore to hire security for the BBMP’s schools and colleges, Rs. 2.5 crore to provide uniforms and sweaters to BBMP school students, Rs. 1.5 crore for the development of Ambedkar playground in Dayanandanagar, Rs. 4 crore for the Kempe Gowda museum, Rs. 1 crore for the Kempe Gowda chair at Bangalore University, and Rs. 40 crore as reserve fund for the Taxation and Finance Committee.
Mr. Shivaprasad said that the councillors could set aside Rs. 10 lakh from their ward grants for ward-level emergency works and Rs. 5 lakh for providing facilities at the BBMP’s tailoring centres coming up in their respective wards.