With the support extended by majority councillors,  Tripunithura Municipality’s annual budget for 2013-14 has been passed.

The budget envisages a revenue of Rs 109.25 crore, an expenditure of Rs 105.04 crore and a surplus of Rs 4.2 crore.

During
the budget review session, the Opposition councillors raised severe 
criticisms against the budget. They said the proposals were the
repetition of the earlier budget and lacked creative suggestions to
raise income.  Tripunithura Municipal Opposition Leader C N Sundharan
levelled a serious allegation against the municipality that Rs 10 lakh
has been allocated to help  an individual.

“In the budget, Rs 10
lakh has been earmarked to rehabilitate street vendors. The street
vendors in the area are the employees of an individual. Hence, the funds
have been earmarked to cater to the vested interest of a person who
controls the vendors,” he said.

He added that the municipality had
failed to implement the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme
during the last financial year.

“The proper implementation of the
scheme would have granted employment to several poor people. But, the
municipality turned blind eye towards them. Funds have not been
earmarked to implement the scheme,” he said.  Meanwhile, opposition
councillor S Madhusudhanan said several proposals lacked proper planning
and feasibility. “For instance, the bus terminal proposal has been
repeated and `50 crore has been allocated for this. But, a way to
generate funds for the project has not been mentioned,” he said.

He
added that funds have been set aside for several projects, including
dumping yard, water treatment plant and plastic treatment plant. “But it
is not mentioned where it should be implemented and how,” he said and
added that the municipality failed in proper waste management too.

“The 100 LED street lights allotted to the municipal area are not adequate,” added.

However,
in the reply speech, Tripunithura municipal chairman R Venugopal said
that proper plan will be developed to implement the proposed projects  
after council meetings.  “We have to continue with the development
projects introduced last year. For this, adequate funds have to be
allocated. So, the budget can’t be termed repetitive,” he said.