JOIN USThe BBMP administration has failed on many counts in terms of the implementation of its budget 2015-16, shows the Action Taken Report (ATR).
While tabling the budget for 2016-17, BBMP had released the ATR for the current financial year. The Palike had estimated receipts of Rs 5,411.25 crore, but the actual receipts were only Rs 4,524.42 crore. Thus, it fell Rs 886.83 crore short of the target.
Although the Taxation and Finance Committee of the BBMP toiled hard and achieved an all-time-high property tax revenue of Rs 1,927 crore, it was Rs 573 crore short of the targeted Rs 2,400 crore. It had high expectations from the betterment charges and cess, but could garner only Rs 206.08 crore. Palike had expected Rs 75 crore as rent from BBMP shops and complexes, but could achieve only Rs 28.52 crore. From the optical fibre cables (OFCs), Palike expected Rs 333 crore, but achieved only Rs 133.93 crore and expected another Rs 113.69 crore by March 31. An amount of Rs 30 crore was expected in the form of solid waste management cess, but there is no talk on the revenue collected in the ATR.
The Palike was expecting Rs 2902.11 crore as grants from the state government and the Centre under various heads, but could get only Rs 1,510 crore including Rs 1,000 crore under Nagarotthana Scheme and Rs 500 crore under Special Nagarotthana scheme.
The BBMP has also not given any details of the number of individual houses constructed for SC/ST/OBC/Minorities under its welfare scheme.
The Palike had vowed special training and coaching for preparing students of BBMP schools/colleges for competitive exams, but the ATR has no reference to it.
Priority for existing parks
The Palike had reserved Rs 76.56 crore with a note, “Presently, a total of 1,237 parks have been developed and are being maintained by BBMP. Given the financial crisis, priorities are given for maintaining existing parks.” It could, however, spend only Rs 27.09 crore. An amount of Rs 130 crore was earmarked for conservation of lakes, but only Rs 75 crore could be spent.
Success stories too
However, there are areas where the BBMP has fared well. For stormwater drains (SWDs), the budgetary provision was 104.11 crore, but it spent Rs 134.33 crore.
Palike had targeted Rs 8 crore from trade licences, but it got Rs 23.25 crore. Similarly Rs 237.5 crore was expected through fees and fines in the Town Planning Department, but it got Rs 325.25 crore.
DH News Service