Date:01/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/04/01/stories/2005040119260300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BMP may not change decision

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, MARCH 31. The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) may remain firm on its decision to allot funds of Rs. 25 lakhs each to the 10 nominated corporators. They are likely to get the same amount from the Mayor's discretionary quota of Rs. 15 crores.

The discrepancies pointed out by the Opposition members in the allocation of special development grants for works in Assembly constituencies will be corrected. Uttarahalli, Chickpet and Shantinagar, which have not been given any grant, will get their share too.

These decisions are likely to be announced by the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance, M.K. Gunashekar, in his reply to the budget debate on Friday.

On Thursday, leaders of the Opposition Janata Dal (Secular), the Janata Dal (United) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Mayor, R. Narayanaswamy, and the Deputy Mayor, R. Shantakumari, met the Bangalore City District Congress Committee (BCDCC) president, Ramalinga Reddy, who is also the Primary and Secondary Education Minister.

They demanded that the special grants announced for the nominated corporators be withdrawn and discrepancies in the allocations be sorted out.

The post-lunch session of the BMP Council meeting on the budget was delayed by over two hours because of the meeting.