BBMP to focus on solid waste management, afforestation; earmarks over Rs 900 cr in budget

The budget has also addressed issues of traffic congestion and green cover.
BBMP to focus on solid waste management, afforestation; earmarks over Rs 900 cr in budget
BBMP to focus on solid waste management, afforestation; earmarks over Rs 900 cr in budget
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The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Saturday presented its budget for the year 2017-2018. 

With an outlay of Rs. 9241.04 crore, the budget appears to have focused on solid waste management in the city as well as at least address on paper, the issue of afforestation. 

Similar to the Karnataka state budget presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on March 15, the BBMP budget too, has addressed issues of traffic congestion and green cover.

In a welcome move, the budget also proposes for the BBMP head office & council building to install rooftop solar panels at a cost of Rs. 4 crore.

While presenting the budget, BBMP's Tax and Finance Committee chairman said that the civic body has earmarked Rs 751.7 crore for solid waste management.

The waste segregation initiative will be expanded to include more number of localities and compost purchase centres will be opened in all the 198 wards in Bengaluru. 

All properties located in BBMP limits shall be allotted a unique Digital Identification Number.

With a promise of planting 10 lakh saplings, Rs. 146 crore has been allocated for parks and plantation of trees. 210 new parks will be built in newly added zones of BBMP, the budget states.

The BBMP has also announced the building of tree parks in BBMP schools and colleges. Besides this, BBMP will launch a mobile app through which citizens can ask for saplings to be planted in their locality. 

One of the many issues plaguing the city is lack of parking space. In what may be seen as a means to tackle this issue, BBMP has now offered a tax rebate for citizens who come up with a public parking facility on their premises. 

Parking facility will also be given in old, unused BBMP markets. 

In case of healthcare, generic medicines will be made available at all BBMP health centres and an amount of Rs 4 crore has been set aside to supply stents to people below the poverty line. Superspecialty hospitals will be set up in Shivajinagar, BTM layout and Sarvajnanagar. The civic body is also looking to set up 20 dialysis centres in various Assembly constituencies. 

Women represented corporator wards will get Rs 20 lakh to implement special women welfare programmes. An amount of Rs. 20.40 crore has been reserved for the programme.

The civic body has also promised to carry out renovation and maintenance works at markets and historical sites at a cost of Rs 3 crore. Another Rs.125 crore has been allocated for overall improvement of all 160 Burial Grounds & Electric Crematoriums. 

Storm Water drains construction and maintenance will be carried out in Hebbal, Koramangala, ChallaGhata and Vrishabhavathi valley.  

And what if the BBMP fails to deliver on its promises, you may ask? The budget has also announced the creation of a Pouravahini team that will monitor the implementation of decisions taken by the BBMP Council. 

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