From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 4: Even before formal announcement of the schedule for the elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), newly formed Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP)with an exclusive focus on Bengaluru and BBMP has announced a few of its manifesto.
The BBMP elections are scheduled to be held later this year.
BNP’s manifesto is are based on fundamental issues like Solid Waste Management, Pourakarmikas, Animal Welfare, Storm Water Drains, Lakes, Trees, Roads, Potholes etc.
The party plans to contest in all 198 wards of Bengaluru in the BBMP elections and currently has around 20 prospective corporator candidates.
Subbu Hegde, Governing Council Member, BNP explained that BBMP’s budgeted expenditure for the year 2019-20 is around Rs11650 crore. BBMP plans to meet 60% of this from collection of Property Tax, 20% from other revenues and make up the shortfall of 20% from the State Government.
However, he said past experience shows that shortfall will be much more than 20%.
BNP will endeavour to change this chaotic situation by streamlining the Accounting and Financial management system in BBMP, he said.
Properties completed and being used should be listed through a detailed survey and full extent of revenue due to BBMP are to be determined on priority. GPS and other technologies are to be used to ensure accuracy of data.
This list should be updated with data obtained from various sources. This data is to be used to ensure close to 100% collection of property tax.
Similar methodology is to be used to determine and collect 100% revenue from advertisement assets, rent from BBMP buildings, parking fees, etc.
BNP will work towards both revenue generation and expenditure to be monitored closely by installing a computerised accounting and financial management system. Deviations from budget are to be immediately investigated and explained to the satisfaction of the genuine citizens representatives in the ward committees and the general public.
The accounting system should be structured to give revenue and expenditure status at ‘ward’ level, so that ward committees are empowered and hold local officials accountable”.
The party also released a manifesto for apartment owners, welfare of pourakarmikas and other stakeholders of BBMP.