BANGALORE: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council, which will meet on Monday to approve various subjects relating to development works, is likely to witness a heated debate on the cut in special grants allocated in its budget for 2006-2007.

Sources in the council told The Hindu on Sunday that members of the ruling Congress are likely to express their displeasure over the issue. "We know this has happened only because the Congress is at the helm of affairs in the BMP. We feel this kind of biased attitude is not fair as it will naturally affect the development of the city," a senior Congress member said.

Mayor Mumtaz Begum, who is planning to lead a delegation to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday to request him to reconsider the cut, said she would be forced to allow a discussion on the issue if the members raised it.

But the Opposition Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) members, who have welcomed the Government's decision, were planning to counter the Congress members if they criticised the Government, the sources said.

More land?

It is also learnt that the BMP is planning to allot more land to the company running Garuda Mall in a joint venture with the BMP. The sources said a subject to allot over 11,000 sq ft of land to the company would be placed before the council for approval. "When the BMP entered into an agreement with the company before the mall was constructed, it was decided to allot 1,65,000 sq ft of land. But the BMP had withheld allotment of 8,560 sq ft of land. So the land next to the mall would be given now, the sources said and added that the Opposition Janata Dal (S) and the BJP members were likely to oppose this move.

This apart, the council is likely to approve several subjects pertaining to works under the second package of the "complete blacktop asphalting", flyover at Minerva Circle and renaming of roads.

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