New Delhi. Karnataka is now finding it costly to get 'freebies'. Congress, which came to power by giving five guarantees, is now finding it hard to fulfill these guarantees. A huge amount of capital is needed to fulfill promises like free ration, electricity, allowances to women and unemployed youth, and free bus travel to women. A large part of the state's treasury is being spent to fulfill these guarantees. Because of this, the Karnataka government is now finding it hard to arrange money for infrastructure development. Now the state government has extended its hands to the World Bank to protect Bengaluru from natural disasters. The government has sought financial assistance of Rs 5,000 crore from the World Bank. The proposal ready to receive this amount has been named 'Disaster Resilience Initiative', under which the goal has been set to improve the city's infrastructure.

The project has received “in-principle” approval from the World Bank and final approval is expected by February 2025. Finance department officials said a major chunk of the funds will be used to improve infrastructure in Bengaluru, while the rest will be spent in disaster-prone cities like Belagavi and Mangaluru. Sources said Rs 3,500 crore is proposed for Bengaluru and Rs 1,500 crore for other cities in the state. “We have sent this proposal to the World Bank. Of the Rs 3,500 crore for Bengaluru, Rs 2,500 crore will be allocated to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the rest to the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB),” a senior government official said.

Special focus on drainage
According to a report in the Times of India, the amount allocated for the Greater Bangalore Municipal Corporation will be spent mainly on reorganizing and modernizing the drainage system. The government says that the drainage system has been neglected for the last two decades, which has increased the risk of floods. The poor condition of drains in the city has further aggravated the flood problem in the city.

New sewage treatment plants to be built
The Karnataka government is also planning to set up new sewage treatment plants to meet the need for modern sanitation infrastructure. An official from the finance department said, “We are considering taking some corrective measures in BBMP and BWSSB.”

This ambitious plan is part of the state government's Rs 1.3 lakh crore comprehensive plan for Bengaluru. Officials say these investments are aimed at improving living standards, increasing private sector participation, promoting innovation, and establishing Bengaluru as a global business and technology hub.