JOIN USDelay in presenting the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike budget has grounded Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy’s visit to foreign cities where he was invited to give a presentation on solid waste management in Bangalore.
Murthy has received invitation from municipal corporations — Barcelona in Spain, Taiwan, Bangkok in Thailand and Chengdu in China. However, the Mayor has said that he would cancel his trips.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Murthy confirmed receiving invitation from the four countries.
Priority
“I have received the invitation, but I will not go anywhere. The municipal corporations of the four cities have asked me to give a presentation on the garbage crisis in Bangalore and ways to tackle them. However, my priority is presenting the budget. I have been told that within a week a decision will be taken and I will have to present the budget,” Murthy said.
Murthy is expected to present the budget on July 22. His term ended on April 27 and since no decision has been taken on his successor, Murthy is continuing in office as caretaker mayor.
Resenting the indecision over the next mayor, Murthy had even wished to resign, but due to the insistence of the district in charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy, he decided to continue.
Rare opportunity
If Murthy presents the budget, he will be among the rare mayors who got the opportunity to table two budgets successively.
Sources in the Palike said that Murthy had showed his willingness to go abroad, but dropped his plan after the government told him that he might have to present the budget this year too.