BBMP: Budget preparation begins

 Rethinking zone-wise budget; Citizens' advice is not invited

 BBMP: Budget preparation begins

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: BBMP has started preparing the budget for 2024-25, department-wise progress and consultation meetings are going on.

 Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath has already held a meeting with the Commissioners of Zones including Special Commissioners of all Divisions. He instructed to provide information on budget preparation and status of expenditure and projects in this financial year.

 Officials said that the heads of all departments and executive engineers of BBMP have started the work of budget preparation and providing information and will give details within January 15.

 Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath had said last year that 'zone-wise budget presentation will be provided'. But as it was the occasion of assembly elections without any opportunity for that, the budget was presented as usual. But this time the thinking has started again for the zone wise budget.

 As Commissioners are appointed only for zones, they are responsible for the works there. It is intended to get information about works and projects from them and provide finance for them. Already, bills are being paid to the contractors by zone wise Chief Engineers. Thus, it is known that the budget has been planned to be presented sector wise.

 Officials informed that the budget of the departments that manage major and major projects like urban planning, Storm water drain, projects, solid waste, lakes, and road infrastructure will be separate.

Last time suggestions were invited from the public in December itself. This time no such process took place. The officials are not giving recognition to the few exists ward committee's opinions. Therefore, this time also the important officials and Deputy Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar's words and thoughts only will be in the budget, said a senior engineer, who did not want to reveal his name.

 As it has been decided to strictly collect all types of fees and taxes to be paid to the corporation including property tax, the income will increase. Therefore, it is said that this time the budget will also include a proposal to carry out huge projects including white topping and flyover under the corporation's grant.

 The budget for the year 2022-23 was presented on the website last year on March 31 at 11.30 pm as a 'secret' budget. The then Special Commissioner of Finance, Jayaram Raipura, had presented the ₹11,163 crore budget (2023-24) in a program held at the Town Hall on March 2 last year.

 Attempt this time: Tushar Girinath

 Last year the zone wise budget was not possible. This time trying to budget zone wise. It is suggested to prepare for presentation of zonal budget for maintenance and ward level works projects. The BBMP budget will be presented in a week after the budget of the state government,'' said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.

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ಬಿಬಿಎಂಪಿ: ಬಜೆಟ್‌ ಸಿದ್ಧತೆ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭ

Budget: Commitment to the concept of 'BRAND' Bengaluru

 Metro connectivity increased by two and a half times

 256 garden from biomining of legecy waste

 Interest in Peripheral Ring Road Project

 Priority for removal of encroachment on Rajakaluve

 Commitment to the concept of 'BRAND' Bengaluru

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has tried to revive the city's projects from where he left off earlier. Although the capital city Bengaluru has been given no eye-catching or bumper projects in the state budget, the concept of 'Brand Bengaluru' has been made the focal point.

Relaunching of 'Indira Canteen', which fills the stomach of the hungry with quality food at a low cost, is a ray of hope for the poor. If more funds were allocated for the maintenance of these canteens, more stomachs could have been filled. It is reassuring to know that it will be implemented in the second phase.

 Siddaramaiah, who mocked the previous government at will, directly said that he should pay his burden for six or eight years. He also criticized indiscipline, indiscretion, corruption and mismanagement. He said that although huge works are being implemented, there has been no significant change in the infrastructure. He continued by giving a new name and explanation to the works of the previous government which could be implemented in urban development.

 In the concept of 'Brand Bangalore', he explained the 9 challenges facing the city and tried to provide grants for the development works of the city in the aspects that need to be taken forward to face them. He given up unnecessary works and grants without hesitation. He has listed what the city needs in the remaining eight months and has given a deadline to complete some of the works. A clear example of this is the upgrading of waste water treatment plants.

It has been said for many years that the sewage water of the city should be treated and drained compulsorily. It was said that the STPs are outdated and will not do the job. But the proposal to upgrade 20 STPs from own resources in 20 months is a strong step towards sustainable water and environment protection.

 White topping has again been prioritized to alleviate traffic congestion which is becoming a daily problem in the city. In addition, the High Density Corridors project has been continued as per the previous government's plan. Realizing that the traffic congestion will not be reduced by these two, the Chief Minister is more inclined towards the expansion of our metro. The plan to extend the connectivity network to 176 km has made people happy. But if time had been fixed for this too, it would have been happy.

 There is no clear picture in this budget to solve the garbage disposal problem that is always bothering the city. He said that ₹1,250 crore would be spent on liquid waste management and sewage treatment. In this, it is mainly said that such pollution will be controlled to prevent it from going to the lakes, and there is a hope of creating a clean environment in the water bodies. Although scientifically it is said that waste disposal is preferred, treating old waste through bio-mining, creating gardens from it does not solve the problem. It is said that ₹100 crore has been given to the Solid Waste Management Corporation (BSWMCL), which has already been surrounded by scandals and has been ordered by the Chief Minister to set up an SIT, to dispose of the waste in a scientific and sustainable manner. The question has arisen as to what can be done with this amount of funding for this institution, which is about to spend thousands of crores. It has been said that similar work will be undertaken in the Central Swachh Bharat Yojana, but there is no clear information about the grant to be received for it.

The Chief Minister has said that the suburban train project has not been implemented by the double engine government and that the previous government has failed, except for explaining the project and its grant, nothing has been done with the grant.

 Siddaramaiah has said that the development works of Bengaluru city were planned by the previous government without financial discipline and gave importance to the works that can be implemented in these eight months. He has also given priority to roads, waste, traffic congestion, floods and environment. He has taken the first step to take it to the international level to form 'Brand Bengaluru'.

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