For the first time in the history of Greater Hyderabad Municipal
Corporation (GHMC), the proposed draft budget of `3,850 crore for the
financial year 2014-15 will directly be tabled in the GHMC General Body
meeting to be held on February 24.

Interestingly, the proposed draft budget has not been discussed or approved by the GHMC Standing Committee.

As
per the laid down procedure of the GHMC Act, the draft budget prepared
by corporation officials should be deliberated and discussed thoroughly
by the Standing Committee members. After incorporating suggestions or
objections from the Committee, if any, it has to be approved in the
subsequent meeting and the approved draft budget then has to be placed
before the General Body for its approval.

Though the GHMC
officials submitted draft budget proposals to the standing committee in
November last year, and Mayor M Majid Hussain convened two special
standing committee meetings to discuss the draft budget proposals two
months ago, they had to be postponed as the Congress members skipped the
meetings.

The eight Congress members in the Standing Committee
objected to the special meeting stating that the draft budget would be
approved when a member of their party holds the mayor’s position instead
to the incumbent from Majilis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

As part
of the post-election understanding in 2009, the Congress and MIM were to
hold the mayor’s post for two years each and the Congress in the fifth
year. While one party holds the mayoral post, the other holds the deputy
mayor’s.

Thus, this year a Congress candidate has to become
mayor. However, the political unrest prevailing over the bifurcation of
the state stalled the procedure.  As a result of the stalemate between
the two parties, approval for the budget was delayed. GHMC commissioner
Somesh Kumar then wrote to the state government seeking clarification on
the issue.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, Municipal Administration
and Urban Development (MAUD) officials sent a clarification that GHMC
commissioner under Section 677 of the GHMC Act can convene a council
meeting to discuss important issues, if the Standing Committee failed to
do so.

Based on this ground, the commissioner has convened a
special meeting to discuss the draft budget at 10:30 am on February 24.
Mayor will chair the special meeting.   

The GHMC has proposed
draft budget of about `3,850 crore for the financial year 2014-15, a
increase of `50 crore compared to current financial year (2013-14).The
GHMC officials also submitted proposals to the Standing Committee for
revision of budget estimates