BANGALORE: Opposition Leader of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Uday Shankar has alleged that the relief fund of the Palike has been misused and criticised the civic agency’s lackadaisical approach to the work.Speaking to reporters on Monday, Uday Shankar said that Rs 85 crore was set aside for the relief fund in the budget this year.“Without the State Government’s approval, the Palike has spent the relief fund. This could not have happened without consulting the Commissioner and the Mayor. So, both of them are involved,” he alleged and added that he will bring up this issue for discussion on the floor of the Council.According to him, there were a number of developmental works pending budget approval from the State Government. Yet, the relief fund had already been used. “Does that mean, only the use of relief fund was given approval? This only means that it is an instance of misappropriation of funds,” he said.Criticising the delay in commencing development works, Uday Shankar pointed out that the ruling party presented the budget on August 18, 2011, the Council approved the same on September 3 and then sent the budget to the State Government on September 28 for approval. “It will take another month for the approval to come through and that means Palike will get only four months to implement the budget,” he said.If this was dismal, he said that in the last seven months, Palike collected only around `187 crores, a mere 20 per cent of the estimated tax collection, which had been spent. “If this is the state of affairs after seven months, then what can be expected of the Palike in the next five months,” he questioned.Uday Shankar also flayed the Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda for not holding any discussions on urban development and said that he had neither invited BBMP council members, officials nor any MLAs for any discussion till date.
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