The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : `Budget is without vision'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 31, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Budget is without vision'

Staff Reporter

Not many are aware of the details of the budget

BANGALORE: The maiden budget of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike does not hold hope for those living in the new areas. Moreover, it is old wine in old bottle. This was the initial reaction of members from citizens' service groups and former corporators that The Hindu spoke to.

While not many were aware of the details of the budget as it was closed to the public, members from some non-governmental organisations were present at the meeting.

P.R. Ramesh, former Mayor, said: "The budget has no vision and has been done in a totally undemocratic manner."

Criticising the reintroduction of the pay and park system, Mr. Ramesh said that the erstwhile council had taken a policy decision on scrapping the system.

"How could the officials make a policy statement in the budget, when there is no council to approve or disapprove it?" he said.

Vikram Simha from KRIA Katte said that the budget did not have any mention of the outcome of the last year's financial outlay.

"All the projects proposed this year have been in the pipeline for several years. The project costs have just increased three times and that is the only difference," he said.

He also questioned setting aside Rs. 5 lakh as Mayor's fund when there is likely to be none for this post at least for the next eight months. The budget has received flak for being the first one prepared without any participation from the elected representatives.

B.H. Veeresh from Mahiti Hakku Adhyayana Kendra said that the budget has been prepared for the officials' convenience.

"There are no administrative reforms to cut down on the wasteful expenditure such as officials' salaries," he said.

About the levying of impact fee on properties above a certain threshold, Vinay Baindur of the Civic Bangalore said that the budget has looked at gaining only monetarily from high-rise buildings.

"Why have they not affixed the responsibility of managing the environment around the high-rise buildings to the construction agencies?" he asked.

While welcoming the budget, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has condemned the levy of 10 per cent cess on property tax.

"It could be augmented by better compliance of property collection system," president of FKCCI said in a press release.

The Bruhat Bangalore Citizen's Welfare Vedike has condemned the budget as "citizen-unfriendly". It provides no tax relief for them, the vedike said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section