The Hindu 21.05.2010
Karnataka plans cap on civic poll expenses
Special Correspondent
| Victorious candidates must submit statement of expenses |
A ceiling of Rs. 2 lakh, 1.5 lakh and 1 lakh proposed for CMC,TMC & town panchayats
Property tax collection meets target
BANGALORE:Ceiling on election expenses is likely to be fixed for candidates contesting the city and town municipal councils as well as town panchayat elections in Karnataka as the Department of Municipal Administration has sent a proposal in this regard to the Law Department.
Disclosing this to presspersons here on Thursday, Municipal Administration Minister Balachandra Jharkiholi said the proposal would be taken before the State Cabinet for clearance after getting the approval by the Law Department.
The proposal seeks to put a ceiling of Rs. 2 lakh, Rs. 1.5 lakh and Rs. 1 lakh for the election expenses of candidates contesting City Municipal Council (CMC), Town Municipal Council (TMC) and town panchayats (TPs) respectively.
As per the proposal, it is mandatory for the victorious candidates to submit a statement regarding election expenses within a prescribed time after the polls, the Minister said. He expressed confidence that it would be possible to bring in the system of ceiling on election expenses for the candidates contesting these urban local bodies before these bodies go to polls. The State has 44 CMCs, 94 TMCs and 68 TPs.
Mr. Jarkhiholi said the drinking water shortage in most of the northern parts of the State had decreased. However, the districts of Kolar, Chickballapur and Bangalore Rural were still reeling under drinking water shortage.
The Deputy Commissioners of these districts had been allocated Rs. 5 crore to arrange for drinking water supply through tankers.
The target of collecting a property tax of Rs. 200 crore for 2009-10 had been completely achieved by the municipalities in the State, he said while pointing out that a property tax of Rs. 191 crore had been collected in the previous year. Similarly, drinking water cess of Rs. 113 crore had been collected as against the target of Rs. 128 crore for 2009-10, The Minister said about 480 vacant posts in the municipalities would be filled up by June-end. This would take care of the staff shortage to a great extent.
PSUs
Mr. Jarkhiholi, who also holds the portfolio of Public Sector Enterprises, said he had requested the government to hand over 12 sick and 20 closed PSUs to his Department so that a decision could be taken either on their disinvestment or revival. These PSUs were under different Departments associated with their functioning. Only 40 PSUs in the State were earning profits, he pointed out.
