Tax collection is on, asserts BBMP

Over 2 lakh forms have been printed

Rubbishing reports over the non-availability of forms, BBMP officials said that there might be shortage of forms in a couple of centres in the City.  “We had printed over two lakh forms before March 30. Thus, the question of shortage of forms does not arise,” said Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) D L Chandrashekar.

However, the shortage may be due to personnel being diverted to Census work that is to begin on April 15, he added.  The official said the new Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Council, which is all set to be in place in the next couple of weeks, will have to present its  Budget for 2010-11.

Draft copy

According to the Palike officials the draft copy of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike Budget 2010-11 has already been prepared and is to be presented during the Council’s first session. “We are waiting for the formation of the Council, so that the matter can be debated,” said a Palike official.

The State government has already sanctioned Rs 600 crore for the BBMP, for the interim period of March and April. However, the authorities are still not sure whether the newly-elected Mayor would allocate more funds in his/her maiden budget for the popular schemes. Officials feel that the new body will not have sufficient cushion to announce too many popular schemes.
“At the most they can spend an additional Rs 80 crore on popular schemes,” an official added. At present, no new works have been commissioned while the old works are moving at a snail’s pace.