The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is all set to present the 2018-19 budget on Wednesday, ahead of the Assembly polls, is likely to have several schemes to woo voters in the city.
The budget will be presented by Standing Committee for Taxation and Finance chairperson Mahadev M.
According to highly placed sources within the BBMP, the budget will most likely stress on rainwater harvesting, environment protection and development of parks and playgrounds.
That apart, the budget is likely to include a midday meal scheme for senior citizens. The scheme was earlier scrapped, as the civic body had failed to clear bills for food that was being provided by ISKCON.
“This time, there will mostly be an allocation for the scheme. As many as 50 senior citizens from each ward will be covered under this scheme,” a source said and added that the BBMP will mostly announce establishment of dialysis centres in Assembly constituencies that don’t have the facility.
Another announcement likely will be that food for all pourakarmikas in the city would be from the Indira Canteens. “The pourakarmikas had earlier urged the BBMP to provide food from the Indira Canteens. Currently, food for pourakarmikas comes from ISKCON,” said the source.
Mayor N. Sampath Raj had earlier spoken about the need to have helipads in each zone. This too will most likely find a mention in the budget. The source said that BBMP had identified space for construction of helipads in five zones.
“It will take some time to construct these helipads under the first phase, as the detailed project report is yet to be prepared. The BBMP is yet to seek permission for the same from the multiple departments involved,” the source added.
No hikes in taxes
Sources confirmed that there will no hike in any tax collected by the BBMP. “With the Assembly polls just months away, no such move will be made,” the source said.
Mr. Mahadev told The Hindu that the budget outlay is going to be similar to that of last year. The outlay for the 2017-18 budget was around ₹9,200 crore. He added that he would be presenting a ‘realistic budget that will meet the needs of the economically weaker sections and the middle class citizenry’.
