Rs 9,498.90 crore budget presented

Keeping an eye on next year's state assembly election, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) today presented Rs 9,498.90 crore budget and announced several schemes for poor people.

The Finance Standing Committee Chairman K A Munindra Kumar presented the budget. The BBMP has earmarked Rs 10 crore for the supply of LPG for hundred beneficiaries belonging to the poor section of the society in each ward. "The scheme is named after late minister V S Acharya," Kumar said.

Kumar also announced a scheme wherein autorikshaw drivers would be provided financial assistance to help them install digital meters. He also said the BBMP has earmarked Rs 3.5 crore to poor people for facilitating them to conduct last rites of their dead kin.

Kumar also said the BBMP has earmarked Rs five crore for the welfare of weaving community. "We will give financial assistance to 500 weavers," he added. The corporation has set aside Rs five crore for dog steralisation scheme, Kumar said adding that ultra-sound scanning facility would be provided free of cost to poor pregnent women, Kumar said.

Rs sixty crore is earmarked for widening 13 arterial roads in the city, Kumar said and Rs 1000 crore would be raised by issue of municipal bond. Kumar also said the BBMP spend Rs 426 crore to set up five signal-free corridors in the city.