BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is struggling hard to gather funds for development works. Interestingly, it has funds to spend lakhs of rupees for an international meet in New York. Mayor Sharadamma, along with Opposition Leader M Uday Shankar, Mudalapalya Councillor N Shanthakumari and BBMP Engineer-in-Chief B T Ramesh will take part in ‘Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship: City Strategies Programme’, a global partners’ summit scheduled to be held in New York from November 2 to 4.According to BBMP sources, each person requires at least Rs 2.5 lakh including flight tickets, lodging and boarding. They will be flying by Qatar Airlines. The State Government has given a conditional approval to them provided BBMP bears the expenditure. The commissioner has instructed the Chief Accounts Officer to necessitate action towards providing all expenses, including air fare, accommodation, and food for the training programme.The sources further said it is ‘disgusting’ that BBMP, which does not have sufficient resources for required works, is spending huge amount of money like this. “The summit is about business innovation and entrepreneurship. How does it benefit the city? It is just their personal junket,” an official said. The official further said that the ruling party is very clever and they have chosen opposition party leader, so that they (Opposition) will not make this trip a big issue in the Council meeting.Meanwhile, Mayor’s Personal Secretary C Lingaiah is also expected to join the team. However, according to the BBMP official memorandum, he will travel at his own expense. “What is the need of a personal secretary for the Mayor at New York,?” the official asked. When contacted, Mayor Sharadamma, said that they are waiting for the visa clearance. There is a monthly BBMP Council meeting on October 29. “We will leave Bangalore after the Council meeting,” she said. When asked about the personal secretary accompanying them, Mayor said, it is for security reasons.
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