BBMP Budget: ‘Doubled’ Expectations for Resource Mobilization

BBMP: Focus on Uncollected Money

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The BBMP budget, which has set its sights on collecting more than ‘double’ money from resources that have not been collected for years, has set its sights on 50 percent more funds than last year.

In 2025-26, excluding state and central government grants and World Bank loans, the BBMP needs to collect ₹11,149.17 crore resources. In 2024-25, including central and state government grants, the amount collected was ₹10,318 crore. Therefore, it has decided to increase the existing collection.

Advertisement tax, e-account transfer, property rent, crematorium fees, OFC taxes are estimated to almost double from last year. These collections have achieved only half of the expected performance in previous years.

In addition to the state government's ₹4,000 crore grant, BBMP should provide ₹2,000 crore to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) every year. It has been said that the money collected from the advertisement policy and premium FAR will be given, but there is no sign of it being collected.

₹1,360 crore should be provided this year for the 'Brand Bangalore' projects. This money should be transferred to escrow from the corporation's resources. If that is not possible, the Brand Bangalore projects will be stopped

₹3,500 crore will be spent on administration, staff expenses and solid waste management. About ₹2,000 crore will be spent on operations and maintenance. All the money coming from BBMP's property tax will be enough for this. Only when the other expected revenues come in will the ward-level works begin.

Discrimination in zones: Although the zone-wise budget, which had been said for some years, has not been presented, the details of how much money is being given to which zone and which program are explained in the book ‘Budget Estimates’. Almost all the works have been kept at the center, and Mahadevapura, which pays the highest tax, has been given less works.

‘No money for people’s works’

‘They are trying to reach the sky by showing huge projects. Last year’s budget of ₹13 thousand crore has not been reached. The same projects that were said last year have been said again. Even if the government gives more funds, it goes to the SPV. There is no money in the BBMP to carry out the necessary works for the people of the city,’ complained Padmanabhar Reddy, former leader of the BBMP ruling party.

Budget receipt figures

₹12,371.63 crore; 2024-25 budget presentation

₹13,408.13 crore; Revised Budget 2024-25

₹10,318.10 crore; Total receipts in 2024-25

=

₹19,930.64 crore; Expected receipts in 2025-26

₹7,000 crore; State government grant

₹542.44 crore; Revenue grant

₹498 crore; Central government grant

₹238.50 crore; National Disaster Fund

₹500 crore; World Bank loan

Grant cut for Kempegowda Jayanti

The BBMP budget has cut ₹50 lakh for Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Day celebrations. The grant, which was ₹3 crore last year, is ₹2.5 crore this year. The grant given to the Peanut Council has been reduced from ₹60 lakh to ₹50 lakh. A ₹20 lakh cut has also been made for Dasara festivals in the city.

How much money for which zone?

Zone; Money (in ₹ crores)

Central; ₹1,027.82

East; ₹420.44

West; ₹414.56

South; ₹410.37

Yelahanka; ₹134.64

Mahadevapura; ₹193.04

Bommanahalli; ₹210.76

R.R. Nagar; ₹188.57

Dasarahalli; 98.94

 Zoning, class unit rates abolished, single fee for all zones

Parking fees in buildings reduced!

Bengaluru: A draft notification has been issued to re-fix the fees for parking areas in residential and non-residential buildings under the BBMP jurisdiction.

The BBMP Chief Commissioner issued the draft notification on March 29, fixing the unit fee as per the Unit Area Value (UAV). Seven days have been given to file objections.

UAV was decided in the zoning classification as per the notification dated March 28, 2016. As per the tax formula, 50 percent of the unit rate of the zoning classification (A, B, C, D, E F) and class (RCC, Red Oxide, Sheet/Tile) was collected as parking fee. It has been revised to fix the same parking area rates for all zonal classifications and classes of properties.

If a covered and stilt parking area is used for own or rental purposes in residential buildings, the fee will be ₹2 per square foot. Non-residential buildings will have to pay ₹3 per square foot, the draft notification said.

According to the new UAV rates, if there is a parking area of ​​150 square feet, the residential area will have to pay ₹2 per square foot per month, which will be ₹300. As per the tax formula, ₹600 will have to be paid per year. The fee for non-residential buildings will be ₹1,125. This fee will be lower than what is being paid now, officials said.

Revised annual parking fee (tax formula)

Residential: 150 square feet (parking area) x ₹2 (per square foot) x 10 months = ₹3,000. 20% of this amount = ₹600

Non-residential: 150 sq ft (parking area) x ₹3 (per sq ft) x 10 months = ₹4,500. 25% of this amount = ₹1,125

How much is the savings?

If the owner of such a building is paying about ₹780 annually for a 150 sq ft parking area, then such a building owner will have to pay ₹600.

Fee reduction: Munish Moudgil

‘As per the notification dated March 28, 2016, those who have mentioned the parking area at the time of determining the property tax are already paying the fee in the property tax itself. This fee will be reduced as per the new revision,’ said Munish Moudgil, Special Commissioner, Revenue Department, BBMP.

‘Instead of charging more for parking, all buildings should be encouraged to have parking areas. Therefore, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had suggested that the fee be reduced. Accordingly, a draft notification has been issued revising the fee.

‘The fee will be reduced by 30 percent for residential building owners who have already included their parking area in the property tax. There will be a 25 percent reduction for non-residential building owners. Overall, the BBMP will save about ₹5000 crore in property tax,’ he informed.

‘Those who have not included their parking area in the property tax can do so during this year’s property tax payment,’ he said.

Suspension of property tax payment

The BBMP’s property tax payment system has been suspended due to the inclusion of garbage management service fee in the property tax in the current financial year and revision in the parking fee.

On the website for paying property tax online, ‘Financial year 2024-25 has ended and the new financial year (2025-26) is starting. The online property tax payment system will be operational from 5 pm on April 3,’ the message has been published.

It was decided in the final days of the financial year to collect all the proposed fees through property tax. A new column needs to be created. Thus, the property tax system has been hampered, officials said.

E-Khata, New Khata suspended

The BBMP, which intends to collect fees and taxes more in the new financial year, has temporarily suspended the e-Khata and New Khata websites. ‘The software of the new Khata system has been temporarily suspended as maintenance work is being carried out on the property tax online system. The service will resume after April 4,’ it has been informed.

‘After entering all types of data in the e-Khata, New Khata system, a message is coming. If the software is not working or is temporarily blocked, no data should be allowed to be entered. This should have been informed earlier,’ said Chandrappa of Vijayanagar.

No new project proposals; No funding for roads, potholes, drains; No recognition of the demands of the common people

‘Massive budget’ of loans and guarantees

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ manjunath

Bengaluru: BBMP’s budget for 2025-26, which has the distinction of being the ‘Massive budget’ in the history of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, is limited to the projects of the previous year. It has relied solely on government grants, guarantees, and loans, and has managed to allocate funds for the huge projects announced for two years.

The shadow of the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept has continued in this budget as well, and an attempt has been made to allocate this money for projects under eight categories under it. People had high hopes for the BBMP budget, which received the highest funding from the state government. They were hoping for projects that would provide pothole-free roads, silt-free drains, waste-free areas, and traffic congestion-free traffic. However, the budget did not pay any attention to these.

65% of the total budget amount has been allocated for public works including tunnel road, double decker, elevated corridor, new road, white topping. Most of this amount has been given to major works, while ward roads and drains have been ignored.

Waste management has been implemented without any hesitation to collect user fees from property tax, which is a burden on the citizens. ₹1,400 crore is being spent on solid waste management, and all its works are again revolving around the ‘integrated waste management’ project. The old statement of solid waste management in 100 acres in four directions has continued in this budget as well, and money has been allocated in the budget for old projects for collection of traditional waste, construction waste, and garbage. 

It was said in the last two budgets that the city would be greened and millions of saplings would be planted. The same thing has continued in this budget as well. But only greenery is not seen in the city. Healthy Bengaluru projects have remained in the budget for two years, and this year too, it has been said that the same thing will be proposed and upgraded. Hospitals suffering from shortage of staff have not been treated.

Bommanahalli zone has shown more interest in the development of parks and lakes. It has been said that the lakes will be revived, and funds will be provided for the developed lakes. No time has been set for the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in public places and municipal buildings.

A bold step has been taken to use technology and artificial intelligence, and the plan to save crores of rupees by developing applications by the municipal corporation itself instead of outsourcing is good. The road pothole app is already lying around, and it is a good development that it is planned to treat it and make it ‘BBMP-One-App’ and bring it on a single platform to solve the problems.

The grand budget has shown how the grants, guarantees and World Bank-aided loans provided by the government will be channeled to huge projects. Thousands of crores are transferred to SPVs to manage loans, public-private partnerships, build-operate-transfer projects. Overall, like putting a new label on an old product and selling it, old projects have been given shape in the budget and money has been given for the expenses.

BBMP presents budget; Implementation of mega projects through SPV

₹73,000 crore project for SPV

Bengaluru: BBMP, which has received an additional grant of ₹4,000 crore from the state government, intends to implement mega projects worth ₹73,600 crore through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in the next five years.

This is the first time in BBMP's history that such a large amount of projects are being undertaken, the 2025-26 budget presented on Saturday said. The SPV has been entrusted with the formulation, implementation, external financing and preparation of bid documents for these complex projects.

The budget, approved by BBMP Administrative Officer S.R. Umashankar, was presented by Special Commissioner of Finance K. Harish Kumar at the Town Hall on Saturday.

The ‘Brand Bengaluru – Smooth Bengaluru’ concept has prepared a ‘Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan’ to provide a sustainable solution to traffic congestion, and the budget has said that major infrastructure projects will be undertaken for it.

It is proposed to implement mega projects over a period of five years with the formulation, implementation, external financing and expertise of complex projects at a cost of ₹73,600 crore. For this, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) comprising urban planners, expert engineers and administrators will be formed. The income from premium FAR fees and advertisement fees will be transferred to the SPV, which will be responsible for the implementation of tunnel roads, elevated corridors, double deckers, roads adjacent to Rajakaluve, white topping, sky towers (skydecks), and road expansion projects. ₹42 thousand crore has been allocated for two tunnel roads. With a tunnel road to be implemented in 2025-26, the SPV will handle projects worth a total of ₹31,600 crore.

With the aim of providing more funding for solid waste management projects, it has been decided to collect waste management user charges from property tax itself from April 1.

Projects handled by the SPV

• ₹17,780 crore; Tunnel road from Hebbal to Hosur Road-Silk Board
• ₹13,200 crore; High density/elevated corridors in the outer and inner rings, flyover
• ₹9,000 crore; 40 km double decker on our metro route
• ₹3,000 crore; 300 km road on the side of Rajakaluve
• ₹6,000 crore; White topping on major roads

BBMP Budget 2025–26

₹19,930.64 crore; Total receipt

₹19,927.08 crore; Total expenditure

₹3.56 crore; Savings

How much is the waste management user fee for whom?

Building area; Fee (monthly)

Up to 600 sq ft;₹10

600 sq ft to 1000 sq ft;₹50

1000 sq ft to 2000 sq ft;₹100

2000 sq ft to 3000 sq ft;₹150

3000 sq ft to 4000 sq ft;₹200

More than 4000 sq ft;₹400

Projects worth ₹73,000 crore under SPV scope

A ‘Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan’ has been prepared to provide a sustainable solution to traffic congestion under the concept of ‘Brand Bengaluru – Smooth Traffic Bengaluru’, for which it has been stated in the budget that major infrastructure projects will be undertaken.

It is proposed to implement mega projects over a period of five years in the formulation, implementation, external financing and expertise of complex projects at a cost of ₹73,600 crore. For this, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) comprising urban planners, expert engineers and administrators will be formed. The income from premium FAR fees and advertisement fees will be transferred to the SPV, which will be entrusted with the responsibility of implementing tunnel roads, elevated corridors, double deckers, roads adjacent to Rajakaluve, and white-topping projects.

Projects managed by the SPV

₹17,780 crore; Hebbal to Hosur Road – Silk Board Tunnel

₹13,200 crore; High density/ elevated corridor in outer and inner rings, flyover

₹9,000 crore; 40 km double decker on our metro route

₹3,000 crore; 300 km road on the side of Rajakaluve

₹6,000 crore; White topping on major roads

==

Works under Sugama Bengaluru Project

*₹1,700 crore grant (Government – ​​BBMP) White topping of 157 km long roads

*694 crore; Expansion and modernization of 118 km roads as per revised Master Plan-2015

*1000 km; Construction of footpaths while developing main, sub-main and roads under the ‘pedestrian first’ principle

* ₹440 crore; Silk Board for Fortune-500 reputed IT-BT companies – 22.7 km road development with globalization standards from K.R.Pura – Lauri Junction to Baiyappanahalli Metro Station

₹₹675 crore; ₹2.50 crore per ward for development of 225 wards in the city and ₹50 lakh each for maintenance works

*It is proposed to widen the roads from R.T. Nagar Police Station to Ambedkar College, Lingarajpura flyover to Pulakeshinagar Shyampur main road, Kenchanahalli main road in Yeshwantpur and Mahadevapura roads using TDR. Construction of railway underbridge near Kengeri Sub-city, Ramohalli Gate.

₹1,400 crore for waste management

Under the ‘Swachh Bengaluru’ action plan to clean the city, a waste disposal project of about 100 acres in each package in four directions of the city for the next 30 years will be implemented this year, the budget said.

For the processing of construction waste (debris), four packages for collection, transportation and processing of 750 tonnes of debris per day will be implemented from this year itself in private and public partnership, and debris will be collected from the sites and buildings themselves. Waste transfer stations will be set up in all 27 assembly constituencies under the 15th Finance Commission, Swachh Bharat Nagar 2.0 grant. 

Bio CNG with a capacity of 50 tonnes per day, four biomethanization units, animal waste processing unit, and household hazardous sanitary waste decentralization units will be implemented this year. A 300 tonne capacity Bio CNG unit will be started in collaboration with GAIL.

* ₹187 crore; 39.07 lakhs for traditional waste management under Swachh Bharat Nagar 2.0 grant

* ₹104 crore; 1226 tonnes of dry waste treatment unit under Swachh Bharat Nagar 2.0 grant

* 474.89 crore; Liquid waste treatment at Bellahalli, Mittaganahalli, Bagalur, Baiyappanahalli and Kannur landfills

* 40 crore; 1500 km. Use of advanced mechanical sweeping machines for cleaning long main and sub-main roads

Plan for increasing forest area in the city

Under the concept of ‘Green Bengaluru’, it is proposed to increase forest area, greening of areas, integrated management of trees, wildlife conservation, and forest activities in the city as a responsibility to preserve and protect the biodiversity ecosystem and pass it on to the next generation.

₹2 crore has been allocated for ‘Energy Audit’ of public buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. The budget states that the establishment of a wildlife rehabilitation unit at the Bannerghatta Biological Park, 2 to 6 months internship in environmental activities for young graduates who love the environment, a forest manual for scientific greening of tree groups and scientific management, and the much-awaited tree census will be completed this year.

* ₹51.69 crore; Special campaign to plant 5 lakh saplings launched

* 20 acres; Well-equipped park with public facilities on government land near Singapore Lake

* 125; Water storage tank and composting unit in parks

* ₹28 crore; Implementation of climate action and resilience plan in one ward of each assembly constituency

₹92 crore; Development work in parks and grounds to increase green space, recreational facilities

* 118 crore; Maintenance of 1,280 parks

₹413 crore for a healthy Bengaluru

Under the ‘Healthy Bengaluru’ campaign, a total of 852 beds in 19 hospitals will be increased to 1,122 beds at a cost of ₹413 crore in the next two years. Over 60 tests will be done free of cost. The budget proposes to provide dental services at 26 new centres.

26 BLS ambulances for emergency care in case of cardiac arrest and other emergencies; 144 electric vehicles for the programme to boost immunity of children of vagrants and slum dwellers, seven physiotherapy facilities for disabled children, 54 artificial intelligence-based refractometers for screening school children will be provided.

Additional work will be done at Royapuram Maternity Hospital, Sagaypur, Kushalnagar Hospital and 50-bed hospitals in Singapore Village and crematoriums will be constructed at Kumbalagoda and Tavarekere.

₹633 crore; M.C. Layout Multi-Specialty Hospital proposed to the government as a medical college

₹12 crore; Grant for construction and maintenance of slaughterhouse

Shelter for dogs, crematorium

Shelter centers for dogs suffering from serious diseases and accidents and crematoriums for animals will be established in three zones. An observation center will be established in Yelahanka zone for dogs that have made it a habit to bite repeatedly. Veterinary clinics in six zones at a cost of ₹7.5 crore, two ABC centers in Bommanahalli and Mahadevapura zones, microchips for stray dogs, food scheme for stray dogs, including a total of ₹60 crore has been allocated in the budget for the management of stray dogs in the year 2025-26.

₹183.69 crore for renovation of schools and colleges

₹183.69 crore has been provided to provide quality education to the children studying in the municipal schools and colleges. Emphasis has been given to opening new schools in five zones and renovating school buildings. Rainwater harvesting, installation of hand gardens and solar roof panels, and installation of sanitary napkin incinerators will be done by involving students in schools and colleges.

* ₹2,000; Salary hike of teachers of the municipal educational institutions

* ₹23.34 crore; Maintenance of municipal school buildings

* ₹30 crore; Playground development

* ₹120.35 crore; Educational programs

₹210 crore for lake maintenance; ₹2 ​​thousand crore for Rajakaluve

₹210 crore has been allocated for the maintenance and development works of lakes under the concept of ‘Water Safety Bengaluru’. It has been informed that all the tube wells and clean drinking water units under the jurisdiction of the corporation will be handed over to the Bangalore Water Supply and Drainage Board for studying birds in all the lakes, setting up rainwater harvesting systems in the corporation buildings and public places.

To reduce weather extremes and create a sustainable environment in the city, the Karnataka Government and BBMP, with financial assistance from the World Bank, under the Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Programme, intend to construct a 174 km long barrier wall for the Rajkaluve with a grant of ₹2,000 crore in the next three years. ₹500 crore is expected from the World Bank this year.

*₹247.25 crore; Permanent relief from the National Disaster Relief Fund in the flood-affected areas of the city

‘BBMP-One-App’ for solving civic problems

Under the ‘Tech Bangalore’ concept, it has been decided to use artificial intelligence technology to save time and resources required for providing corporation services and provide faster services to citizens. ₹40 crore has been allocated for integrating mobile applications for citizen services under ‘BBMP-One-App’.

Citizen-friendly apps will be developed for building plan approval, business licenses, telecom towers, clean-city-waste-management, electric crematorium, lake management, property management. Safe City Camera, information from cameras in corporations, artificial intelligence-based technology will be used to detect deteriorated roads, rainwater stagnation, waste problems, unauthorized advertisements, footpath encroachment, illegal buildings, etc. and take urgent action to resolve the problems of citizens.

 

₹50 crore for Sky Deck 

Under the ‘Romanchaka Bengaluru’ concept, ₹50 crore has been allocated for installing decorative lighting to beautify and attract the city, ₹25 crore for junction improvement and beautification of public spaces, and ₹50 crore for the construction of Sky Tower (Sky-deck), and these works are in progress. 

In coordination with the Sports Department, it is proposed to provide funding for a project to create a multi-purpose sports facility in Jakkur and to organize a year-round ‘Bengaluru Habba’ in parks to strengthen community ties.

Using LED technology everywhere in the city, energy costs will be reduced from ₹300 crore to ₹200 crore. It has been informed that the ₹100 crore saved will be used for the Vibrant Bengaluru project.

₹100 crore; Grant to Kempegowda Development Authority for Magadi Fort development

₹1360 crore for ‘Brand Bangalore’

Under the concept of ‘Brand Bangalore’, a total of ₹2,8280 crore worth of major projects have been undertaken for a period of three years in 2024-25. A separate escrow account has been opened to implement these projects, and ₹660.00 crore has already been transferred in 2024-25. A grant of ₹700.00 crore has been provided in the budget for 2025-26, and this amount will also be transferred to the escrow account. Overall, steps will be taken to pay a total of ₹1,360.00 crore in 2025-26. The budget states that the remaining amount will be provided in the next year and the works will be completed.

Ezee Hi-tech Toilet: Amenities for all

 New generation toilets under Shubhra Bangalore grant; Free for all

Ezee Hi-tech Toilet: Amenities for all

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Citizens often complain about the problem of urinals and toilets in the city. It can be said that there are no public toilets for the disabled. To solve all these problems, high-tech ‘Ezee’ toilets with separate systems are being built in the city for everyone to use.

‘Ezee’ toilets have separate systems for men, women, disabled people, and gender minorities. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike is building these toilets in many parts of the city under the ‘Shubhra Bangalore’ grant. Citizens do not have to pay any fee to use these eco-friendly toilets that provide amenities for everyone.

Ezee toilets, which include sensor flushing urinals, have commodes mounted on the wall and no pipes are visible. Sensors are installed on each tap to save water. There is a two-way drainage system and the treated water is used for urinals and toilets. Perforated sheets and polycarbonate sheets are installed for air and light.

‘The toilets are easy to use, accessible, clean and available at the required location. Hence, the name ‘Ezee’ has been given by using the English word ‘Easy’. 40 Ezee toilets are being constructed in the city. The first toilet has been started on the banks of Yelahanka Lake. Ten toilets are under construction on the banks of lakes in Bommanahalli and BTM divisions. The remaining toilets will be constructed in the required places in the city by the end of this year,’ informed the engineers of the BBMP’s Health and Sanitation Department.

‘In the first phase of constructing eco-friendly toilets, 20 toilets have been constructed in many areas including Sarakki Lake. These toilets, which are free for public use, do not have high-tech facilities. In the second phase, Easy toilets are being constructed in an eco-friendly manner with facilities found in airports and luxury hotels,’ he said.

Where are the Ezee Toilets?

Yelahanka Lake, Bommanahalli Division's Kudlu Chikkakere, Anjanapura Lake, Subramanyapura Lake, Gottigere Lake, Begur Lake, Basavanapura Lake, BTM Layout Division's Tawarekere.

Construction in two months; maintenance for five years

As per the Swachh Bharat guidelines, 'Easy Toilets are being built under the title of 'New Generation Toilets', which are open defecation free (ODF) and environment-friendly. The toilets are being built in a precast model in two months. The contractor who builds the Easy Toilets has been given a contract to maintain them for five years. The public will not have to pay any money for the use of Easy Toilets. The BBMP will bear the maintenance costs including electricity and water to the contractor,' said engineers from the Health and Sanitation Department.

• 40; Easy toilets to be built in the city
• ₹70 lakh; Cost of construction per toilet
• ₹28.12 crore; Construction and maintenance for five years
• 4; Men's urinals
• 3; Western commode for men
• 3; Western commode for women
• 1; Western commode for English people
• 1; Western commode for gender minorities

593 sq ft; Total area of ​​Easy toilets

382 sq ft; Building construction area

205 sq ft; Common use area

Lack of space: Vikas Kishore

'The intention is to build eco-friendly, high-tech toilets everywhere. However, there is a shortage of space. In some areas, people object to the fact that toilets are not needed here. However, Easy toilets are eco-friendly and do not cause any inconvenience to the people around them. "The locations will be identified as soon as possible and all the toilets will be constructed and made available for use by the end of this year," said Surolkar Vikas Kishore, Special Commissioner, Health and Sanitation Department.

Vacant site: No action taken for cleaning

 BBMP: Notice not implemented even though order was issued seven months ago, no fine imposed

Vacant site: No action taken for cleaning

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: A seven-day deadline was given for cleaning vacant sites in the city, but even after seven months, the waste, plants and fences have not been cleared from the sites. The problems for neighbors are increasing.

A notice should be issued to the owners to clear the plants and fences and waste from vacant sites. If they do not take action within a week, the corporation itself should conduct the clearance operation and the cost and fine should be included in the property tax, Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath had issued an order in August 2024.

A new order was issued under the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016, Solid Waste Management By-Law 2020 and BBMP Act 2020 to collect fines and disposal costs from the owners for waste disposal from vacant plots. However, there is no action in most parts of the city regarding this.

In many parts of the city, vacant plots are not clean. Some have built compounds, but they are not particularly clean. People from neighboring areas or those traveling in vehicles throw away waste. Plants and bushes have grown. Due to the presence of waste, the menace of dogs, cats, rats and mice has increased. In some areas, vacant plots have also become a haven for snakes, creating anxiety for the neighbors.

‘There are many vacant plots in and around our block. Someone has thrown away waste in these plots. Plants and bushes have grown. This causes a foul smell to the residents of the neighborhood, and stray dogs are fighting for food. No one is removing the waste. Even after complaining to the BBMP, it has not been of any use,” complained T.E. Srinivas of Jayanna Layout in R.R. Nagar.

“We have a vacant plot adjacent to our house. They throw garbage there. The builders of the surrounding buildings have been bringing the waste there overnight and dumping it. No one is admitting their mistake. If you ask the owner of the plot, he says, ‘I cleaned it last month, what should I do?’ The BBMP must take strict action regarding the cleanliness of the vacant plot,” demanded Gowdaiah of Ullalu Main Road.

What are the steps that the authorities have to take as per the BBMP order?

• * A notice should be given to the owner with a specific period of seven days to  or clear the waste in the vacant site
• * If the owner fails to comply with the directions, the corporation should clear the waste in the site. Its cost and penalty should be mentioned in a separate table in the property tax demand notice and paid to the property owner within seven days.
• * The penalty and cost should be entered in the property tax books. It should be entered as the outstanding amount along with the property tax collection and collected.
• * In case of failure to pay within the specified period, the Zonal Commissioner should also levy applicable interest.

‘Zonal officers should take action’

‘The health department is no longer responsible for waste disposal management. Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) should take action for waste disposal in the sites. Local engineers should serve notices to the owners and take action to collect the fine and clearance costs from them. "The Zonal Commissioner should take action," said Surolkar Vikas Kishore, Special Commissioner of Health and Sanitation Department, BBMP.

‘Greater Bengaluru’ administration in the hands of GBA

 BBMP split by ‘Greater Bengaluru Administration Bill’, power in hands of authority

‘Greater Bengaluru’ administration in the hands of GBA

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The power of local bodies in the urban district will be curtailed, and all types of projects, financial power, and complete control of administration will come under the control of the ‘Greater Bengaluru Authority’ (GBA).

The ‘Greater Bengaluru Administration Bill- 2024’ has been approved in the legislature, according to which the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will be split. Many gram panchayats adjoining the BBMP boundaries are also expected to be included in the GBA. There is a possibility of creating seven urban municipalities with 150 wards each within the GBA. Thus, instead of being split or divided, the BBMP will be abolished.

According to the bill, not only the Bengaluru urban district, but also the areas notified by the government, including the areas of the Bengaluru rural district, will come under the jurisdiction of the GBA. Thus, there is a possibility that the GBA will include the areas of Ramanagara district along with the urban district and rural districts.

The ‘Joint Scrutiny Committee of the Legislative Assembly’, which examined the bill, has also suggested that ‘the economically strong Gram Panchayats of the urban district can also be included in the GBA’. Therefore, the scope of the GBA will be expanded as per the notifications issued by the government from time to time.

As per the 74th Amendment to the Constitution, the GBA will exercise most of the powers that the urban corporations should have. The bill also gives the GBA the power to perform the administrative functions of the urban corporations and exercise its powers.

The GBA will finalize the general cadre and appointment rules for the urban corporations. The GBA will also appoint Group A and Group B employees. Although C and D employees can be appointed by the Commissioners of the urban corporations, no disciplinary action can be taken against them. The responsibilities of preparing the city plan, which are given to the municipal corporation in Article 243 ZE of the Constitution, have also been given to the ‘Bengaluru Mahanagara Yojana Samiti’ (BMPC) to be formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister.

Who will be in the GBA?

The Chief Minister will be the ex-officio chairman of the ‘Greater Bengaluru Authority’. The Bengaluru Development Minister will be the vice-chairman, and the MLAs from the assembly constituencies under the GBA will be the members. The Chief Commissioner of GBA will be the member secretary. Members of Municipal Corporations, BDA Commissioner, Bangalore Water Board Chairman, BMTC, Namma Metro, BESCOM Managing Director, District Collector, Police Commissioner, Chief Executive Officer of Bangalore Metropolitan Road Transport Authority, Managing Director of Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), Chief Town Planner of GBA, Chief Engineer, Director of State Fire and Emergency Services, Commissioners of Municipal Corporations, members of Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, Legislative Council from GBA jurisdiction, representatives of Traffic Police, Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation, Lake Conservation and Development Board will be members. Also, the government can make an officer of any agency or department as a member.

Unconstitutional: Padmanabhareddy

‘Part IXA of the Constitution gives power to local bodies from Article 243P to Article 243ZG. Instead, there is no provision in the law to create an authority through the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill-2024’ and give it powers,’ said Padmanabhar Reddy, former leader of the ruling party of BBMP.

‘The Chief Minister, who claims to be the heir of the Constitution, should immediately hold elections to BBMP to uphold democracy. The Constitution should be respected. Once the people’s representatives are elected to BBMP, they should be given the opportunity to discuss and advise on what is necessary for the administration of the city,’ he said.

‘2,500 tonnes of mixed waste landfilled every day’

 275 crore liquid waste treatment took three and a half years; ₹474 crore cost: Tushar Girinath

‘2,500 tonnes of mixed waste landfilled every day’

• Processing unit on 100 acres near Terrafarm in Doddaballapur
• Another unit on 100 acres of land given to Nice Road in Gollarahalli

Bengaluru: About one thousand tonnes of waste is being processed within the BBMP limits, and about 2,500 tonnes of mixed waste is being landfilled, said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.

The problem that arose in the Mittaganahalli-Kannur landfill area has been resolved, he informed reporters on Monday.

The problem was due to lack of communication between the locals of Mittaganahalli and Kannur and the contractors and officials. Work is being undertaken for the development of villages at a cost of ₹500 crore. He said that the work will start immediately after issuing the work order.

Garbage is being disposed of at night at Mittaganahalli landfill, and steps will be taken to dispose of it during the day as well. He said that minor problems have been resolved.

About 275 crore liters of liquid waste (leachate) is collected at Mittaganahalli landfill, and it will cost ₹474 crore to process it. A tender will be called for it soon. There are currently two 50 KLD liquid waste treatment plants in Mittaganahalli. If they are processed, it will take more than ten years. He explained that two MLD treatment plants will be set up and processed in three and a half years.

A tender was called for solid waste management as a new project. Few people participated in that tender. A tender is being called again after removing some elements. A new 100-acre area for solid waste disposal has been finalized near Terrafarm in Doddaballapur. The government has 50 acres of land and about 65 acres are being purchased from private parties. Also, 100 acres of land given to Nice Road near Gollarahalli is being acquired. If the units start at both these places, integrated solid waste disposal and processing will begin, said Tushar.

Mittaganahalli landfill : 300 crore liters of Leachate collected

 Daily hell for the people of Mittaganahalli, Bellahalli, groundwater polluted 

Mittaganahalli landfill : 300 crore liters of Leachate collected

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Mittaganahalli landfill area has been filled with more than 300 crore liters of liquid waste (leachate) due to the waste that has been dumped for about nine years. This has increased health problems in the surrounding villages and has also poisoned the groundwater.

The mixed waste collected in all 198 wards of Bengaluru and the remaining waste in the processing units is being dumped in the Mittaganahalli landfill area through more than 500 compactors. 

Every day from 6 am to 6 pm, compactors line up and dump the waste. leachate continues to pour out from the compactors that stand in a row. Liquid waste is dumped along the one and a half km road from Bellahalli Cross to Mittaganahalli landfill. Although it is a dirt road, it has turned darker in color than the asphalt. 

All types of waste have been dumped in the landfill for more than nine years. After the waste is dumped, construction waste is placed on top of it, but the leachate is flowing into four nearby ditches. Although it appears to be garbage on the surface, the liquid waste is filled to a depth of more than 50 feet. 

The Bellahalli lake, which is located near the Mittaganahalli landfill, is filled with leachatee. People living nearby are afraid to even touch its water. Thousands of people live in many large apartments behind this lake. They have to endure the stench of garbage every day. Also, health problems are increasing. 

‘leachate is flowing in Kannur Lake, Chikkagubbi Lake, Doddagubbi Lake and Rampur Lake, including Bellahalli Lake. All these lakes used to provide drinking water to people and livestock. But now, the water here is untouchable,’ said Ramachandrappa, a resident of Bellahalli.

‘When the problem increases, we protest. Some officials come and patch things up. The same problem again. No one has been providing a permanent solution to the problem for four years,’ complained Nagaraju of Bande Hosur.

‘Waste has been being disposed of scientifically in the Mittaganahalli landfill area for many years. The State Pollution Control Board report says that liquid waste is not entering the lakes,’ BSWML officials responded.

Elderly people suffer more

‘Locals are suffering from various diseases due to drinking water from wells. Chest pain, including dental and lung problems, is also being seen. When patients go to the doctor, they say that the problem is caused by water. leachate is getting into the borewells, which is causing such problems. Many residents, including children from Mittaganahalli, Bellahalli, and Bande Hosur, are experiencing health problems. The elderly are in more trouble,' said Gram Panchayat member Byre Gowda.

It is enough to transport the leachate from here!

'Croons of liters of leachate should be transported from here first. This is what is causing us the most problems. The amount of liquid waste in the Mittaganahalli landfill area is increasing day by day. Along with the foul smell, liquid waste is getting into the surrounding lakes. leachate is also getting into the groundwater, increasing the problem of drinking water. The unscientific disposal should be stopped,' said Kannur Gram Panchayat President S. Ashok.

Non-functioning leachate treatment plant

BBMP has set up a leachate treatment plant at the Mittaganahalli landfill as per the plan. However, this unit has been idle for many years and is like a dilapidated building. All the pipes installed around it have been torn down.

Lakhs of litres of leachate are produced in this landfill every day. A leachate treatment plant has been set up at a cost of tens of crores to process it. Since it is not functioning, liquid waste has filled up four ditches, each more than 50 feet deep.

Kannur Gram Panchayat blocks Garbage Dumping

 Compactors filled with waste lined up at Mittaganahalli, Bellahalli landfills

Kannur Gram Panchayat blocks Garbage Dumping 

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: More than 300 compactors that collect waste from many parts of the city are not empty. As compactors have been lined up at the Mittaganahalli landfill for two days, waste is filling up the city's roads.

'Waste is being disposed of unscientifically, and the surrounding environment is being damaged. Liquid waste (leachate) is coming out more and more, and the surrounding lakes, ditches, wells, and borewells are also polluted. This impurity is getting mixed in the daily water and is having a bad effect on health. Therefore, stop the unscientific waste disposal,' Kannur Gram Panchayat members are campaigning.

‘BBMP has been disposing of garbage in the government cowshed of Mittaganahalli village for nine years. But without taking care of the environment here, they have not fulfilled the promise made before starting the disposal. Therefore, we will not allow compactors to landfill waste,’ said Kannur Gram Panchayat President S. Ashok, members led by Ashok blocked the path of the compactors.

‘We have complained to Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) about this, but to no avail. The liquid waste flowing from the Mittaganahalli landfill area has polluted Bellahalli Lake, Kannur Lake, Chikkagubbi Lake, Dodda Gubbi Lake and Rampur Lake, and thousands of fish are dying. The groundwater has been contaminated. They have complained that dozens of health problems are being faced by local residents and have also written to the state government's Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, requesting action.

Inside the Mittaganahalli landfill area and up to Bellahalli, Bellahalli Cross, compactors filled with waste have been lined up for two days. There is a problem of foul smell here every day, and the foul smell has increased further since the compactors are parked.

No water, no food: drivers

"They are not allowing waste disposal since Tuesday morning. Hundreds of compactors are standing on the road. They are not leaving, they are not there. They have not been able to eat since yesterday. This is a deserted area. They do not get food or water. If you need anything, you have to walk two km. What happened here on Monday night was terrible," the compactor drivers lamented.

‘We were standing near Bellahalli Cross on Tuesday morning, sir. This morning (Tuesday), some compactors went inside. However, no compactor is leaving the weighing gate,’ he said.

‘About 25 compactors that disposed of waste at the Mittaganahalli landfill on Tuesday morning have been prevented from leaving. The way to and from the compactor has been blocked,’ the drivers said.

Fierce struggle if scientific disposal is not done: Ashok

‘Waste is being dumped unscientifically at the Mittaganahalli landfill. Animal waste, medical waste, toxic waste from factories are also being brought here and dumped. A body was also found along with the waste. A complaint was made to BSWML Chief General Manager Lokesh about this, but to no avail. Waste disposal has been prevented because garbage is not being disposed of scientifically. No one has come to talk to us. If our request is not met, the villagers and educational institutions will fight,” said Kannur Gram Panchayat President S. Ashok.

Unnecessary trouble: Lokesh

‘In Mittaganahalli, waste is being disposed of in the same way as landfills were used in the past years. There is no difference. However, some people have unnecessarily caused trouble and blocked the compactors. Talks are being held with them,’ said BSWML Chief General Manager Lokesh.

‘They are saying that the production of liquid waste (leachate) in the landfill area is high and the lakes are polluted. However, according to the report given by the State Pollution Control Board, no liquid waste is entering the lakes. We are disposing of waste scientifically. The body was not found in our landfill area. It is where construction waste is dumped. It has nothing to do with waste,’ he said.

Waste left in autos

As compactors filled with waste have been stopped at the Mittaganahalli landfill, waste collected from homes in many areas of the city is left in autos. 

Around 400 compactors were disposing of waste at the Mittaganahalli landfill every day from 6 am to 6 pm. This disposal did not take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. The compactors did not come out. Thus, the waste remains in autos in the city, creating a foul smell on the roads.

‘There is a problem in some areas of the city due to the waste not being landfilled in Mittaganahalli. We can manage it for the next two days. After that, there will be a problem,’ said BSWML Chief General Manager Lokesh.

‘Kere Connect Habba’ to create awareness among citizens

 Aiming to make local residents, students responsible for protecting water bodies

‘Kere Connect Habba’ to create awareness among citizens

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: ‘Kere Connect Habba- 2025’ has been launched with the aim of making citizens and children aware of the lakes in the city and informing the locals about the responsibility of the communities in their protection.

‘Kere Connect Habba’ aims to make citizens aware of the importance of lakes in the city, and to provide solutions to local residents to face water security, flood problems and other challenges.

Rapid urbanization has reduced sustainable living with water resources. ‘Kere Connect Habba’ is being celebrated to recreate such a connection. Experts will provide information about biodiversity through this festival. Residents around the respective lakes, associations involved in lake protection, and school children will be brought together and their roles in water protection will be explained.

The ‘Kere Connect Habba’ is being organized by the India Care Foundation in several lakes of the city, along with Friends of Lake, along with many corporate and local organizations. The organizers said that permission has been obtained from the BBMP to celebrate the festival in the lakes.

Permission: Permission has been granted to ‘Kere Connect Habba’ in several lakes of the city to create awareness among the people and to prevent damage to the lake environment. Separate permission is being obtained for celebrating the festival in each lake, said Vijayakumar Haridas, Chief Engineer, Lakes Department, BBMP.

Ganga-Kaveri Aarti for a lake without water flow!

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake of  near Magadi Road was developed by the BBMP two years ago at a cost of ₹22.4 crore. However, today there is not even a drop of water in this lake. Ganga-Kaveri Aarti is organized in such a lake during the ‘Kere Connect Habba’.

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake has been developed by the BBMP under the ‘Shubhra Bengaluru’ project and the previous canal route has been changed. Water does not come from the existing inflow. Therefore, despite good rainfall for the last two years, this lake is not filled with even a couple of feet of water.

The Srigandhada  Kaval Lake, which has been constructed unscientifically, is like a ‘hi-tech park’, and the lake has lost its existence due to the lack of inflow.

‘Let the feeling of calling the lake theirs come’

‘The residents around the lake do not even know that the Srigandhada  Kaval Lake is here. Even the children of the schools in the vicinity are not aware of the lake. Therefore, the locals and children should feel that the lake is theirs. They should take responsibility to protect it and keep it clean. Therefore, the ‘Kere Connect Habba’ has been organized on Saturday, March 15 at Srigandhada  Kaval Lake. Various programs have been organized from 7 am to night. We will perform aarti so that water comes to the lake and fills it up even in the next rainy season. ‘Usiru and Team Spotlight organizations will manage the program,’ said Shobha Bhat of Usiru.

Festival at Kaval Lake in Srigandha (Saturday, March 15)

• Lake biodiversity walk
• Children's painting competition
• Stage program
• Information and discussion from experts
• Food from the garden workshop
• Rural games
• Cultural program
• Deepotsava, Ganga-Kaveri Aarti
• Collection of old clothes, old shoes
• Free bag stitching offer if you bring old clothes
• Exhibition stalls on sustainability awareness

BBMP budget to exceed ₹18 thousand crore

 Implementation of mega projects, allocation of funds are in ‘realistic budget’!

BBMP budget to exceed ₹18 thousand crore

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, which has received a large contribution of grants and guarantees through the state government budget, is preparing to present an ‘outline budget’ for the implementation of its mega projects.

BBMP, which will receive an additional grant of ₹4 thousand crore from the state budget from 2025-26, will provide information on which projects it will allocate it, and how the tunnel road project, which has received a guarantee of ₹19 thousand crore, will be implemented. Thus, it is estimated that the BBMP budget will exceed ₹18 thousand crore.

In the last one year, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has announced many projects, including mega projects, including the tunnel road. The feasibility report for the ‘Bengaluru Integrated Traffic Management Project’, which will construct 16 flyovers/underpasses for smooth traffic in the city at a cost of about ₹54,000 crore, is also ready. 

Officials said that the BBMP budget will indicate the funding for 21 projects under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept, including these projects, and the city’s infrastructure projects, their titles and implementation areas. 

There are many doubts among the citizens about the tunnel road project, which is considered the city’s biggest project, at a cost of about ₹40,000 crore. There is also confusion about the implementation process of this project. The budget will provide a clear outline to resolve all this. 

Although the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is ready, the process of inviting tenders for the north-south corridor of the tunnel road has been postponed by four months. Now, the tender process will start only after the budget. The state government's budget clearly states that a 'Special Purpose Vehicle' (SPV) will be set up for the implementation and management of major projects. Thus, the BBMP budget will decide which projects will be managed under the SPV, as well as the procedure for the SPV.

Presentation on 20: 

BBMP budget preparation is in the final stage, all that remains is to hold a meeting with the people's representatives and seek their advice. After this, the budget will be finalized under the guidance of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister.

Since March 30 and 31 are government holidays, the BBMP budget has to be approved by the government by March 29. Thus, the budget will be presented on March 20 or 21. Sources said that the BBMP, which has received 'financial strength' from the state government, hopes to present a budget that is popular with the people of the city.

Final preparations underway: Harish

‘The preparation of the BBMP budget is in the final stages, and discussions will be held with the city’s ministers and MLAs this week. Suggestions have already been received from the citizens. A ‘real budget’ will be presented, which will include the nature and implementation details of the projects to be undertaken in the city next year,’ said BBMP Finance Special Commissioner Harish Kumar.

BBMP Budget 2024–25

₹ 12,371.63 crore; Total Budget Estimate

₹ 12,369.46 crore; Total Expenditure

₹2.17 crore; Savings

=

BBMP Budget 2023–24

₹11,163 crore; Total Budget Estimate

₹11,157 crore; Total Expenditure

₹6.14 crore; Savings

Government's financial strength for BNG mega projects

 ₹7,000 crore grant every year; Guarantee for tunnel road loan

Government's financial strength for BNG mega projects

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ 

Bengaluru: The state government, which has provided relief to the financial crunch faced by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to undertake mega projects in the city, has provided financial strength to build tunnel roads and flyovers.

The projects announced in the budget for Bengaluru, including tunnel roads, flyovers, grade separators, and 21 projects under the 'Brand Bengaluru' concept, have been announced frequently in the last budget and subsequent periods. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had also often spoken about government grants and guarantees for mega projects. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced and authorized such projects and grants and loan guarantees in the budget.

Dozens of flyovers and underpasses have been planned to ease traffic in the BBMP area. However, BBMP did not have the financial capacity to spend on them. The corporation had to depend on the ₹3,000 crore provided by the government every year under the ‘Capital Support for Special Infrastructure’ scheme to manage major projects. Hence, there was anxiety when new projects had to be undertaken. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has removed such anxieties, has made everything easier by providing its own grant and loan guarantee for each major project.

The ₹3,000 crore under the ‘Capital Support for Special Infrastructure’ scheme has been increased to ₹7,000 crore. Since it has been said that a ‘Special Purpose Vehicle’ (SPV) will be set up to look after the projects to be managed under this grant, accountability has been fixed. Through this, the projects for which the ₹7,000 crore grant has been allocated will be available under one platform. It is a good plan that the construction of a 120 km long flyover and grader separators will be managed by the SPV.

Furthermore, the city’s much-awaited tunnel road has been given a clear shape in the budget. The BBMP will avoid mortgaging its assets as the government has said that it will guarantee ₹19,000 crore of the ₹40,000 crore required for the East-West and North-South tunnel road corridors. 

The projects under the ‘Brand Bangalore’ concept have been reiterated in the budget. The development of 460 km of road network for which the tender process has been completed has also been proposed. The scheme to provide grants for three years to make the city a city of international health standards can improve the health facilities of the city residents if implemented at least this time. 

Although the sewerage, STP system development, our metro line, and Bangalore Business Corridor projects are all old, the steps taken for their implementation and information on taking loans have been announced and made official in the budget. 

Overall, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s budget for 2025-26 is a joy for Bengaluru. The income of BBMP is in terms of taxes. About four thousand crores are coming from this, and the projects should have been carried out from there. However, from the next financial year, four thousand crores will come mostly from the government, and huge projects will be implemented. The state budget has given a huge contribution to BBMP this time.

Brand Bengaluru: No focus on pothole repair

 The project to plant 2 lakh saplings under the ‘Green Bengaluru’ concept has not been launched

Brand Bengaluru: No focus on pothole repair

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Although ₹450 crore has been allocated in the budget for 225 wards to repair potholes on roads, potholes on BBMP ward roads continue to increase.

Under the ‘Brand Bengaluru’ concept, works to keep the city’s roads in good condition were also announced in the budget under the ‘Sugama Sanchar Bengaluru’ scheme. Apart from main and sub-main roads, funds were allocated for the development of ward roads. However, potholes remain.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had given a deadline of 15 days to repair potholes before leaving for a foreign trip last September. On this occasion, the Chief Commissioner, Zonal Commissioners, Joint Commissioners and Principal Engineers, including the Chief Commissioner, went out on the roads for a few nights and supervised the repair of potholes. Shivakumar had also submitted a report to him.

Although the main roads are somewhat better, the ward roads are in a very bad condition. The officials keep making excuses that ‘tenders have been called and the repair work will be done’. They are not paying much attention to the repair of the potholes. The repair work will be done only after the tender processes are completed as per its norms and work orders are issued.

‘Exhibition’ in the science laboratory

In the ‘Education Bangalore’ concept, ₹45 crore was allocated in the budget to provide high-tech facilities to BBMP schools. The intention was to set up a computer lab, an information science laboratory, and e-libraries. The school staff themselves are saying that ‘although computers have come to some schools, they have not come with the necessary equipment. Although smart boards have been installed, there is no staff to use them’.

The materials required for the science laboratory have reached some schools. But the consent of senior officials has not been received for their use. Thus, they are arranged like ‘display dolls’. The plan to set up ‘school gardens’ in primary and high schools has not yet been launched.

‘Green Bengaluru’

Under the ‘Green Bengaluru’ scheme, it was intended to green the city by planting two lakh saplings in the city. A scheme was launched in June to give children the responsibility of maintaining saplings during Environment Day. Later, that too failed and all the saplings withered. Tenders have been called for planting and maintaining the saplings at the end of the financial year. The forest department is planning to spend more than ₹3,000 per sapling. However, the bold program of planting lakhs or thousands of saplings has not been done yet.

DCM said engineers cannot be trusted

‘I cannot believe the report given by the engineers. I have repaired my college-age bike and I will inspect the roads on the bike,’ said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar while inspecting the pothole repair work on major roads for a couple of hours (September 2024). Later, he did not come for inspection. Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath had said, ‘More than a thousand potholes are being created every day. Repair is a continuous process. A pothole-free road is impossible.’ Later, pothole repair has become a priority.

Budget that has not reached the people: Basavaraju

‘Since there are no corporators in BBMP, the budget required by the officials has been presented. It has not reached the common people. Although it is said that thousands of crores have been spent on road work, they have not been able to close the potholes. They are not providing the basic facilities that the people need,’ complained A.H. Basavaraju, former leader of the BBMP ruling party. 

Budget allocation for 2024-25

₹150 crore – Clean Bengaluru

• ₹100 crore – Land acquisition for waste treatment
• ₹10 crore – Public toilets
• ₹10 crore – Solid waste management equipment
• ₹30 crore – Sweeper

₹450 crore for 225 wards

• ₹30 lakh each for drainage, maintenance
• ₹15 lakh each for pothole closure
• ₹25 lakh each for footpath maintenance
• ₹5 lakh each for maintenance of monsoon control room
• ₹1.25 crore each for development works

₹50 crore – Education Bengaluru

(Educational progress programmes, high quality education, uniforms, infrastructure development)

Maximum of 7 Municipal Corporations Instead of BBMP

 Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee Report Recommends

Maximum of 7 Municipal Corporations Instead of BBMP

Bengaluru: The Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee has submitted its report stating that a maximum of seven municipal corporations should be formed under the ‘Greater Bangalore Administrative Authority’ and the mayor should have a tenure of 30 months.

Committee Chairman Rizwan Arshad presented the report in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

When the ‘Greater Bangalore Administrative Bill-2024’ was introduced in the Legislative Assembly on July 25, 2024, members objected. As they insisted on referring it to a House Committee, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had promised to form a House Committee to examine the bill. Accordingly, the Legislative Assembly Speaker formed a ‘Legislative Assembly Joint Scrutiny Committee’ on August 22, 2024 and appointed Rizwan Arshad as its Chairman.

‘The committee has held discussions with officials from the Urban Development Department, Parliamentary Affairs, Legislative Department, and Law Department. Also, advice has been sought from the MLAs representing the city. Opinions have been received from citizens and organizations, and many changes have been suggested, and a report has been prepared and submitted,’ Rizwan Arshad informed.

No financial power: The ‘Greater Bangalore Authority’ (GBA) cannot have any power regarding the rates of taxes, fees, cesses, and user charges of the municipal corporations. It is an advisory authority and may have the power to take policy-related decisions, the report states.

The committee, which has sought the opinion of the Advocate General on whether the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill’ would be contrary to the 74th Amendment to the Constitution, has suggested that the State Finance Commission’s recommendation should be sought for the distribution of funds among the municipal corporations.

The state government can provide core funds for major projects through the GBA. The administrative expenses of the GBA should be borne by the government. The report states that consultations should be held with the concerned municipal corporations before undertaking major projects.

Key recommendations of the report: 

• * The term of office of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should be 30 months
• * There should be approximately the same number of wards in the newly created municipal corporations
• * The number of wards in each municipal corporation should not be less than 100
• * Each municipal corporation should start with ‘Bengaluru’. For example: Bangalore East Municipal Corporation, Bangalore West Municipal Corporation, Bangalore South Municipal Corporation
• * A resident of a municipal corporation should be allowed to contest in only one ward
• * After being elected as a municipal corporation member, one cannot change the voter list of a ward of another municipal corporation. If you do so, your membership will be cancelled
• * The Regional Commissioner in the Greater Bangalore Authority should be named as the Chief Commissioner
• * The District Collector and Superintendent of Police should be members in the Greater Bangalore Authority
• * MPs should be considered as members of the authority in the event of voting rights
• * BBMP Act – 2020 should be included in the bill
• * Each standing committee should have a minimum of five and a maximum of 11 corporation members.
• * The term of the ward committee should be limited to 20 months
• * The MLA should be the chairman of the ‘Field Consultation and Coordination Committee’ and the corporation members should be members. The members of the Legislative Council who have votes in the assembly constituency should also be members
• * Tax should be imposed on entertainment programs
• * Property tax should be confiscated after two years of non-payment of arrears, and action should be taken to auction it after one year
• * The power to create private streets should be given to the commissioner from the ward committee
• * Separate committees should be formed for lakes, fisheries, and horticulture

Objection to spelling and grammatical errors

The Joint Scrutiny Committee of the Legislative Assembly has found many spelling and grammatical errors in the Kannada version of the ‘Greater Bangalore Administration Bill-2024’.

There are differences in the translation of the bill, which was written in English, into Kannada. The errors in the clauses have been shown in the report and it has been suggested to correct them.

The names of the posts have also been entered incorrectly. There are differences in terminology, and the wrong translation should be corrected. Noting the discrepancies in several sections, the committee also suggested that each chapter be newly translated and that Kannada and English versions be prepared and provided side by side.

Despite all these instructions, the draft bill has been published in English in the report submitted by the Joint Scrutiny Committee of the Legislature.

BBMP: ‘Tunnel Road’ not raised from DPR

 Traffic not smooth, city not attractive under ‘Brand Bengaluru’

 BBMP: ‘Tunnel Road’ not raised from DPR

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: The ‘underground road’ project, which was announced in the state budget even before the BBMP budget, and is an alternative way to smooth traffic, costing thousands of crores, has not yet been raised from the detailed project report (DPR).

In the first month of the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah coming to power, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had said, ‘If smooth traffic is to be possible in the city, the only solution is a ‘underground road’, it will be ready once it is built.’ However, even after saying this, the project has not come out of the DPR even after a year and a half.

D.K., who is also the Bangalore Urban Development Minister, Shivakumar had given deadlines that tenders would be invited for the ‘tunnel road’ project from Hebbal to the Silk Board by September 2024, December 2024 and by the end of February 2025. However, BBMP’s Engineer in Chief B.S. Prahlad, who is leading the project, has not yet finalized the DPR. A firm that had prepared the DPR had also included the sheets of the Mumbai project and given it to the corporation. The engineers had also given an explanation that it was just one sheet.

‘Sugama Sanchar Bengaluru’ was given first priority in the BBMP budget under the concept of ‘Brand Bengaluru’. It was decided to allocate ₹800 crore and acquire means to make traffic smooth. The BBMP has only achieved so far by getting a feasibility report of Rs 54,000 crore for constructing 16 flyovers, including tunnels, under the ‘Bengaluru Integrated Traffic Management Project’. Although a detailed report has been given, there are allegations that BBMP engineers are wasting time and money by calling it a DPR.

Pink Room: Under the concept of ‘Attractive Bengaluru’, the BBMP budget had said that ‘pink rooms’ would be built for women at malls and bus stands, providing facilities for napkins and rest. The pink rooms have survived in the budget book, which was printed in colour.

It was said that electric lights would be installed at flyovers, underpasses and road junctions to make them attractive. LED lights were lit only at Hudson Circle during ‘Invest Karnataka’ and ‘Aero-India Air Show’. Later, they also disappeared.

Unable to identify the location for ‘Skydeck’!

The BBMP had announced in the budget that it would build a world-class 250-meter-high ‘Skydeck’ that would become an attractive destination for Bengaluru city. Although this was proposed even before the budget, engineers have not been able to identify the location for the ‘Skydeck’.

BBMP officials are saying that due to the delay in identifying the location for the construction of the second airport in Bengaluru, the locations identified in the south and north for the ‘Skydeck’ have not been finalized. Citizens keep complaining that BBMP officials, who have prepared ‘ready-made excuses’ for the delay of every project, are also responsible for the delay in the flyover works that have been going on for many years.

‘Brand Bangalore’ projects announced in the 2024-25 budget

₹880 crore – Smooth Traffic Bengaluru

₹300 crore for road white topping

₹100 crore for Rajakaluve buffer zone development

₹50 crore for road widening as per RMP

₹50 crore for road construction as per RMP

₹200 crore for tunnel road project DPR

₹30 crore for Padarayanapura road widening

₹100 crore for combined metro-road flyover route (double decker road)

₹50 crore for circular pedestrian flyover at Banashankari Circle

₹225 crore – Attractive Bengaluru

• ₹100 crore for coloured lights at important city landmarks
• ₹25 crore for beautification of junctions
• ₹50 crore for initial project cost of sky-deck construction
• ₹50 crore Funds for Kempegowda Development Authority

Not ‘Brand’, but ‘Pothole Bangalore’

‘The budget was divided in the name of Brand Bangalore. Out of the money allocated in this, ₹40 crore has been released for Detailed Project Report (DPR) and advisory reports. Apart from this, no other work has been done. Although ₹250 crore has been allocated in the grant of the District In-charge Minister, approval has been given for works worth ₹365 crore. But these works have not started yet. They have only given flowers to the ears of the people of the city in the name of ‘Brand Bangalore’. No works have been implemented. They have not even repaired the potholes on the roads, but have called ‘Brand Bangalore’ ‘Pothole Bangalore’. ₹367 crore has been spent per km to build tunnel roads in the highest altitude areas of Leh and Ladakh. But BBMP is going to spend more than ₹850 crore per km. They are now carrying out the work of the white-topping project that was approved in 2022-23,’ said former BBMP ruling party leader N.R. Ramesh.

Budget is a continuous process: Harish

‘Budget is a manual of the projects we undertake in a year. Mega projects are not completed in a single year. If the initial cost is shown in the first year, the money allocated for them is announced in the subsequent budgets. It is not possible to complete huge projects that will last for about five years this year,’ said Harish Kumar, Special commissioner, finance department of BBMP.