Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051207140400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Congress councillors' team meets Governor

Staff Reporter

Submits memo seeking adequate funds for infrastructure development in Bangalore

BANGALORE: A delegation of Congress councillors led by the former Mayor P.R. Ramesh on Wednesday urged Governor T.N. Chaturvedi to urge the Government to enact a separate Act for Bangalore and allocate an adequate percentage of the taxes collected by the Government for the development of the city.

The delegation submitted a memorandum seeking adequate funds for infrastructure development. The members pointed out that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) required over Rs. 750 crore just for administrative purposes. "But the revenue, including grants, does not cross Rs. 700 crore. Though the State Finance Commission recommended annual grants of Rs. 95 crore for the BMP, we are only getting Rs. 65 crore from 2000-2001. Before the State Finance Commission was set up, the Government was giving us over Rs. 82 crore collected as Octroi compensation, stamp duty surcharge, entertainment tax and motor vehicle tax. It is unfortunate that these grants have been stopped," they stated. The delegation comprised M.S. Vasanthakumari, G. Padmavathy, G. Krishnappa, H. Venkatesh Reddy and N. Shantakumari, besides Mr. Ramesh.