Karnataka

16 wards get peanuts in budget

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BBMP

BANGALORE: Over 16 wards that come under Bangalore South and Rajarajeshwari Nagar seems to be the worst affected because of the delayed BBMP budget. The wards fall under Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency, where by-polls are held on July 29 (Monday). With the code of conduct in place, the BBMP has clear mandate not to announce any special grants for the 16 wards.

Questioning the delay of the budget and its “Untimely” tabling, Rajarajeswahri Nagar MLA Munirathna protested against the BBMP council on Friday. “What rights do you have to cheat the public of these two constituency? How can a present a bogus budget without considering the welfare works in these wards? You are cheating over 10 lakh citizens by not giving them required infrastructure,” he rued. He jumped into the well of the house and throw off the budget copies. He also laid down on the ground and sat and protested throughout.

Speaking to TOI, Kavitha Baburaj corporator from Sigasandra said that the budget had no logical approach to solve city’s problems. “My ward that connects to Bangalore to the IOT hub of Electronic city does not have required civic amenities. It’s still a rural pocket and requires special allocation of funds. Why was the tabling of budget ignored so far and why has it been done now when the MP elections are due? It’s unfair,” said Kavitha.

Even before the Mayor presented the budget, there were arguments going on the injustice met these wards in the budget. A team of elected representatives headed by G H Ramachandra from Rajarajeshwari nagar questioned the Mayor and that led to war or words in mayor’s chamber before the budget.

The affected wards are Jalahalli, J P Park, Yeshwanthapura, HMT ward, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Laggere, Kottigepalya, Jnanabharathi wards of Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly constituency and Singasandra, Begur, Gottigere, Konanakunte, Anajanapura, Vasanthapura, Uttarahalli, Chikkalasandra. These wards lack basic infrastructure facilities.

Speaking to TOI Srikanth Viswanathan, Co ordinator, Advocacy, research and capacity building unit of Janaagraha said that the budget had not taken account of requirements of these wards.

“Population growth, exciting quality of life in these wards have not been considered in the budget making. This kind of budget without objective basis, Bangalore will lose its competitiveness in India,” said Srikanth who has been analysing the city’s budget over the years.

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