CM backtracks on giving BBMP financial freedom

MYSURU/BENGALURU: Two days after Siddaramaiah announced he would unveil a plan to make BBMP financially independent, the chief minister backtracked asking, "Where's the need?" He told TOI in Mysuru on Sunday that he had given sufficient funds for Bengaluru's development in his latest budget. When pointed out that the budget presented on Friday had reduced the allocation to BBMP and to Bengaluru compared to last year, the CM said: "Who told you so? It's even more this time." The budget indicated a drop in allocations to the BBMP from Rs 1,500 crore last year to Rs 1,391 crore this year. During the budget presentation and later in his interaction with the media the same day, Siddaramaiah had said: "I have a separate plan to make BBMP financially independent. I will unveil that plan soon." Greater financial independence for the BBMP could potentially help the corporation find new sources of revenue to fund the city's massive infrastructure needs, and also use the resources more effectively. Sources said that though the government made a high allocation for the city in the budget last year, it spent just over 50% of it. "I was surprised that Siddaramaiah chose to ignore Bengaluru just when the BBMP elections are around the corner. I was, in fact, expecting a big bonanza," said former minister S Suresh Kumar. He said the CM should have allocated at least Rs 8,000-10,000 crore for infrastructure projects in Bengaluru, besides Rs 5,000 crore for the cash-starved BBMP to give it a new lease of life. Sources close to Siddaramaiah said the CM chose not to announce anything for Bengaluru because he is planning to come out with a separate package sometime before the BBMP polls. "Since there is uncertainty over the conduct of polls which are due in April 2015, he has decided to make a separate announcement, knowing well that public memory is short. He is also awaiting legal clearance for the proposed Akrama-Sakrama scheme to mop up enough funds," sources said. The Akrama-Sakrama scheme seeks to regularize property-construction violations through steep penalties. Experts Speak: R K Misra, urban expert There is no vision or coherent thinking behind deciding a budget for Bengaluru. Last year, Rs 9,000 crore was allocated, but half of it was not spent. For example, the Rs 500 crore allocation for KR Puram flyover went waste because not a file moved on that. Having said that, this budget is all about announcing patch works. Mobility issues on Outer Ring Road will not be solved unless the government announces allocations for BRTS (bus rapid transport system) or metro rail. International agencies are willing to fund the BRTS. The whole of last year, we (various experts) had a number of meetings with the CM, and he and Bengaluru development minister Ramalinga Reddy assured us that the consultations would be heeded. But the budget has no mention of it. He either has no interest in the city that generates 70% of the revenues for his state or has no understanding of what Bengaluru needs. A K Kodanda Pani, one of the first master planners of Bengaluru Of the little that the CM has announced for Bengaluru, the majority will go towards building skywalks and flyovers. Why don't they ever concentrate on making good roads! Well connected, wide and good roads will take care of half of the mobility issues in the city. TenderSure roads are good but too few to make an impact. The metro rail construction delay is also adding to the costs for the government, and indirectly the tax payers too. The government should have handed it to a private company that would have built it faster. Smart cities are only being talked of but everything remains on paper. BBMP may be superseded by Government to buy time Even as the BJP gets ready to present the last BBMP budget for this term on March 17, chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday indicated that he is open to supersede the BBMP. "The government is studying the Rajendra Katharia Committee report on functioning of the BBMP. We will soon decide on it,'' Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru. The report goes into various financial and administrative irregularities in the BBMP during the five-year term of the current council, and could be used to supersede the BBMP. If the government supersedes the BBMP council, it gets six months to hold elections to the council again and by then it could bring enough schemes to lure the city's voters. Sources said the government is keen on restructuring BBMP by dividing it into multiple corporations before the polls. The three-member panel looking into the modalities is expected to submit its report by end of June. The Karnataka High Court, which is hearing a petition filed by two councillors seeking directions to the state government to hold BBMP polls on time, has also issued notice to the state government seeking an explanation. Sources said that the state government could supersede the council to circumvent the High Court's directions. -TOI