The Hindu 20.03.2013
GMC presents Rs 550-cr budget
The Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) has presented ambitious budgetary estimates pegged at Rs.550.07 crore.
This is a marked increase from the budget outlay for the year 2012-2013 which is at Rs.428.23 crore.
Municipal
Commissioner (I/C) P. Srinivasulu says that priority has been given to
infrastructure development, beautification and implementation of welfare
schemes. With an expenditure pegged at Rs.343.06 crore and the expected
revenue targeted at Rs.116.39 crore, the GMC has shown the total outlay
at Rs.550 crore. However, questions mark over the grants by the Central
and the State Governments. It has been over two years since the Chief
Minister promised that he would grant Rs.50 crore for the development of
the city, but the promises remained unfulfilled so far.
The
GMC is also banking on grants from the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY) to the
tune of Rs.50 crore for development of slums, but even that promise
remained on paper.
The drinking water project at an estimated cost of Rs.207 crore too remained a non-starter.
However,
the GMC appeared to be intent on giving importance to solar lighting,
LED lighting, avenue plantation, traffic lights and solar lighting etc.
New roads would be laid, footpaths and bridges would be built at a cost
of Rs 15 crore. Proposals to develop Traveller’s Bungalow at a cost of
Rs.15 lakh have been placed. Funds under Building Penalisation Scheme
have been earmarked for construction of zonal office, auditorium,
swimming pool, Road under Bridges and parks.
Impetus
has been given to laying of new roads at an estimated cost of Rs.8.70
crore, water pipelines and implementation of welfare schemes.