BBMP Budget: Numbers just don’t add up

Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

If the size of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Budget for the year 2022-23 is any indication, it seems the BBMP officials have utterly failed in presenting a realistic budget.

Generally, the Urban Development Department (UDD) would prune the BBMP Budget if it aims to spend more money than the actual income and grants from State and Central Governments. Now, the question is who will make the BBMP Budget realistic if it is prepared and presented in the presence of State Government officials.

Many also feel that the size of the BBMP Budget is in violation of Karnataka Local Fund Authorities Fiscal Responsibility Act, which is aimed to put in place prudent financial management processes in the BBMP. It helps ensure that the Budget outlay is not inflated and is commensurate with the revenue generated.

The method and mode of presenting the BBMP Budget invited a lot of criticism from former corporators and activists in the city. They want the BBMP Budget to be transparent on the revenue and to be as per Karnataka Local Fund Authorities Fiscal Responsibility Act.

“What is the use of bringing the BBMP under Karnataka Local Fund Authorities Fiscal Responsibility Act if the size of the Budget is more than the revenue? It is for the first time in the BBMP’s history that its Budget is just uploaded on its website. Even during the Covid pandemic, the BBMP’s Budget was presented at the BBMP Office,” said former corporator Shivaraju M adding that the BBMP owes crores of rupees to the contractors and the BBMP Budget should be between Rs 8,500 crore and Rs 9,000 crore.

According to former Leader of Opposition in BBMP Council Abdul Wajid, the BBMP Chief Commissioner and Administrator have succumbed to pressure from BJP MLAs. “It is an unrealistic budget. It is meant for the benefit of BJP MLAs,’’ said Abdul Wajid.

Criticising the BBMP authorities for not maintaining transparency in presenting the Budget, former mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun said that uploading Budget on the website is against democratic norms. “The Budget is not as per Karnataka Local Fund Authorities Fiscal Responsibility Act. It is the state government which brought the BBMP into Karnataka Local Fund Authorities Fiscal Responsibility Act purview and it is the same government which is violating it by presenting unrealistic BBMP Budget,” opines Gangambike Mallikarjun.

Coming down heavily on the BBMP authorities for not giving importance to heritage, animals’ welfare and safety of citizens, Priya Chetty Rajagopal, a social activist, has said that she sent suggestions on heritage, animals’ welfare and safety of citizens to the BBMP authorities one month ago. 

“I am disappointed with the BBMP Budget. I suggested providing additional ambulances for the welfare of animals but there is nothing on this issue in the BBMP Budget. I want corporators of respective wards (after holding elections to the BBMP Council) to supervise the developmental works. I do not want MLAs to interfere in ward-level developmental works,” she said.

Aam Aadmi Party Chief Spokesperson Sharat Khadri has described the BBMP Budget unrealistic and not possible to implement. “The BBMP Budget is not environment-related. It is not people-friendly. It offers no promise for development. I am of the opinion that most of the projects proposed in the Budget may not be implemented,” said Sharat Khadri.

However, Sapna Karim, Head, Civic Participation, Janagraha has appreciated the authorities for allocating funds for the ward-level developmental works. “The BBMP had allocated Rs 60 lakh for each ward last year. The BBMP authorized ward committees to supervise the developmental works. I hope the BBMP Special Commissioner (Finance) will issue, like in July last year, a similar order empowering the ward committees to plan and supervise the developmental works at the respective wards. I am very happy with the progress in conducting ward committee