This years budget is fraudulent, say Opposition

BANGALORE: This year’s budget faced severe criticisms from the Opposition. Criticizing the budget the much delayed budget, the Opposition said that there is ‘nothing’ in the budget.No new projects“This budget does not propose new projects. It is not going to benefit the people of Bangalore”, said M Udayashankar, Opposition Leader, BBMP.  Pointing out the fact that the Ruling Party is yet to fulfil the objectives from last year’s budget, he explained that this year’s budget focuses on many pending projects.He added that the corporation has managed to complete only 37 per cent of the plans listed in the last year’s budget (2010-11).Padmanabha Reddy, JDS Opposition Leader, had similar opinion. The Opposition also condemned the Ruling Party for not making them a part of the budget preparation process.Consistent delayUdayashankar said the Palike attributed this year’s delay to last year’s budget.  Former mayor P R Ramesh said that the delay in the budget is actually a strategy by the Palike to buy more time to present the budget.Lack of fundsPalike which is in debt, tried buying more time by delaying the budget. In a series of meetings with Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, a delegation from BBMP asked the government to increase state funding for the Corporation. In this year’s budget, they claim to secure Rs 1,500 crore as special grants from the government.The Opposition believes that there will be no financial support or approval from the State Government.Quoting last year’s budget, Udayashankar said that after having promised Rs 1,300 crore, former chief minister Yeddyurappa granted only Rs 300 crore.With a debt of about Rs 3,500 crore, the Palike is in dire need of state funding. “We have already seen that the BJP government does not support the ruling party (BJP) in the corporation”,  said Padmanabha Reddy. Pledging his support for equal funding for all wards, he threatened to go on a hunger strike, if there is unequal funding even after the discussion on August 23.Where is the money?Pointing out the fact that the Palike has not been able to raise the money promised in the 2010-11 budget, former mayor P R Ramesh said that the corporation is ‘fooling’ the citizens and it is fraudulent in its presentation.Udayashankar pointed out that the corporation has been unsuccessful in raising revenue from trade licenses. Out of Rs 5 lakhs worth of revenue promised in the 2010-11 budget, he said that BBMP has managed to raise only Rs 42,000. He added that out of Rs.195 crore provided as part of the JNNURM funds, only Rs 11.78 crore have been utilized during the last year.