Budget draws flak from BJP corporator

Picking up the loopholes in the budget at a time of financial crunch, Ganesh said there should be some rationale in the income and expenditure.

Starting on a note, “Let us accept criticism if it helps the Palike perform better for the society,” B V Ganesh asked why the Palike required to spend crores of rupees on the Ranga Mandira, on the stadium and on the laser show system in the City, when basic amenities could not be provided to the people.

Holding the officials responsible for the poor performance on the financial front, Ganesh pointed out that the Palike had planned to extract Rs 30 crore from road-cutting, while it can garner only 10.25 crore.

From markets, the Palike could accumulate Rs 13.83 crore in 2009-10 which slipped to merely Rs 10 crore in 2010-11. The Chamarajpet corporator said there are at least 15 such cases where the officials failed to perform.

Unrealistic and irrational
Speaking on the budget, Congress corporator M Nagaraj dubbed the budget unrealistic and irrational.

He also pointed out that the Palike engineers executed sub-standard works across the City for which an inquiry must be conducted. He further said the works implemented by the Major Roads department of the Palike carried out unsatisfactory work on the peripheral road. This needs to be investigated, he added.

During the discussion, Kushalnagar corporator Noor Jaan rued that the Palike is apathetic towards the women corporators whose areas are being neglected.
She asked the mayor and the commissioner to visit their areas to check the absence of development. Other women corporators from Congress too stood in her favour and raised their voice against the alleged apathy.

The Jayamahal corporator, Gunashekhar too highlighted the poor financial status of the Palike and also, on the little relief from the State Government.

Restriction
The BBMP council was unanimous to restrict celebration of Ganesha festival for 10 to 15 days.

Raising the matter in the House, Congress corporator M Nagaraj said the celebration, dragged for three to four months, cause a lot of inconvenience to the people.
“The use of loudspeakers and long processions add to the traffic woes in the City. It would be good if we arrive at a decision to limit the celebrations for 10 to 15 days,” said Nagaraj.

Cutting across the party line, all the corporators unanimously agreed to restrict the Ganesha celebration to 10 to 15 days. However, a decision could not be taken.

JD(S) defends former commissioner
The decision to join the JD(S) seems to have paid off the former BBMP commissioner, Dr S Subramanya, as the party in the BBMP Council came in his defence, when Congress corporator M Nagaraj held him responsible for the poor financial status of the Palike.
Floor leader of JD(S) Padmanabha Reddy on Friday picked up issues with Nagaraj, for levelling false charges against a ‘JD(S) worker.’ Reddy said the BJP-ruled Palike administration is basking in the glory of the good works done by
Dr Subramanya as the former Palike commissioner.

He challenged the Palike administration to initiate a CBI inquiry if they found proof of misappropriation.