Opposition in BBMP asks govt to give what citizens pay their taxes for

BENGALURU: “The state government’s idea of introducing Namma Canteen on the lines with Tamil Nadu's successful ‘Amma Canteen’ will be a flop. Instead of earmarking Rs 100 crore for canteens, which will not run, the government should have given priority to other things which the citizens need,” argued BBMP Council opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy during the budget discussion on Tuesday.

He said, “People pay their taxes, expecting good roads, footpaths, lakes, parks, underground drainage system and pure drinking water.”

On why the much-hyped Namma Canteens, offering food at subsidised rates, will be a flop in Bengaluru, he said, “Mentality of the people in our state is not the same as those in Tamil Nadu.”

He further expressed his opposition to hiring marshals to get Bengaluru out of the garbage mess. “The BBMP has 198 corporators, 12 standing committee and eight joint commissioners. If they couldn't solve the garbage menace, how will hiring marshals be of any help?”

He suggested that it should be run on a pilot basis in one or two wards and then the decision has to be taken whether it should be implemented across the city.

BJP corporator Manjunath Raju said, “KIAL is spread over just 3-4 km. Space around KIAL was auctioned for advertisements for Rs 195 crore. While the city is spread over 800 square km, the BBMP advertisement department is hardly making Rs 18-20 crore, excluding the amount going into salaries and legal fights from the department.”

He alleged that even after hiking the property tax by 25 percent this year, the BBMP's revenue has stagnated at Rs 2,100 crore, including arrears and cess. During the BJP rule, the civic body had collected Rs 1,900 crore, he said.