“Increase revenue instead of seeking funds from government,” said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while addressing the gathering at the function organised to mark Kempe Gowda Day celebrations here on Friday.
According to the Chief Minister, BBMP can raise revenue totalling Rs. 4,000 crore by improving the property tax collection system by way of bringing all property under the tax net, identifying defaulters and reviewing tax paid under the self-assessment scheme. He also cautioned BBMP against presenting an unrealistic budget and said that the budget should be commensurate with the revenue collections.
The Chief Minister advised BBMP to create awareness on segregation of waste at source and on the need to stop use of plastic. Referring to the protest staged by Mandur residents demanding that garbage generated in the city should not be dumped there, the Chief Minister said BBMP should be ready with an alternative site to dump garbage by December. He said: “I was forced to bow my head in shame when the Mandur residents blamed me for the BBMP’s mistake. By December, BBMP should stop dumping garbage at Mandur,” he added. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ananth Kumar said he had apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the garbage crisis. “Mr. Modi has directed me to draw up ‘Garbage to Compost’ campaign that will be taken up in 500 cities across the country. The Centre will sign memorandums of understanding with the State governments.”
