BBMP budget focuses on welfare schemes, solid waste management

Bengaluru City Corporation has earmarked ₹415 crore for waste management in its budget for the next financial year. The resources will be used for setting up 12 bio-methanisation units for producing biogas from wet wastes.

For storm water drain (SWD), the city corporation has set aside ₹147.33 crore and ₹10 crore has been reserved for renovation of SWDs in new zones, ₹60 crore for renovation of Challaghatta, Hebbal, Koramangala and Vrishabavati valleys.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Budget for 2015-16 proposes a total expenditure of ₹6,728.98 crore. Out of the total spend, revenue expenditure is ₹2,243.22 crore and capital expenditure ₹4,486.40 crore, with a surplus of ₹64 crore.

As per budget estimate for 2014-15, BBMP’s total receipts stood at ₹5,977.92 crore and total expenditure was ₹6,024.52 crore. As per the revised estimates, total receipts were ₹2,894.13 crore and total expenditure ₹2,927.25 crore.

V Anand, Chairman of Taxation and Finance Standing Committee of the civic body, presenting the budget said that in view of the present financial status of BBMP, the financial assistance from the State government is highly desirable.

“We request the State government to release the balance of 2014-15 and fresh grants for the current year which amounts to ₹5480.47 crore,” he said.

The State government in its budget announced ₹1,000 crore under Mukhya Mantrigala Nagarothana for basic road infrastructure projects, road widening, lakes development and improvement and development of backward area in seven CMC and one TMC areas of BBMP. Also an additional grant of ₹1,500 crore has been announced.

Anand said action would be taken depending on the release of grants from government. It is proposed to maintain and repair existing major projects and also take up new ones such as creating junctions, grade separators, palike bazaar at Vijayanagar, multi-level car parking under Nagarothana grants and BBMP’s own resources.

He said ₹401 crore has been earmarked for welfare programme for the benefit of SC/ST, backward class, women, and minority communities.

An amount of ₹105.08 crore has been set aside for the health department and ₹5 crore for the implementation of national urban health mission project.

For education, a sum of ₹20.66 crore has been set aside, ₹1 crore is allocated for providing CCTV cameras in all BBMP-run schools/colleges, ₹25 lakh is allocated for providing financial assistance for SSLC and I/II PUC students and ₹2 crore has been earmarked for providing mid-day meals to students in BBMP schools.

An amount of ₹40.40 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition for road-widening, SWM and fencing BBMP properties. BBMP has reserved ₹20 crore for rejuvenation of improvements of BBMPO commercial complexes and maintenances of BBMP market and construction of multilevel car parking at Malleswaram.

An amount of ₹76.56 crore has been set aside for horticulture department. At present, 1,237 parks in the city are developed and maintained by BBMP. Afforestation programme has been allotted ₹41.52 crore. Rainwater harvesting will also be encouraged.

An amount of ₹130 crore has been earmarked for lake development. At present 82 lakes are in BBMP control. Out of this, 46 have already been developed and rainwater is stored in these lakes. About 11 lakes have been handed over to local resident welfare associations on annual maintenance basis.

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