The Hindu       07.03.2011

Thrust on infrastructure in Nedumangad municipal budget

Implementation of the Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme, construction of a town hall and waiting sheds, modernisation of the slaughterhouse, provision of financial assistance to coconut farmers, and steps to improve the production and service sectors are the thrust areas of the annual budget of the Nedumangad municipality, adopted by the council last week.

There are no new tax proposals in the budget which expects a revenue of Rs.41.83 crore and expenditure of Rs.38.12 crore, with a surplus of Rs.3.71 crore.

Municipal vice-chairman Pattathil Sheriff, who presented the budget, said the construction of the town hall was expected to commence soon on 68 cents of land near the Kacheri junction. The building would also house a shopping complex with 86 shops. An amount of Rs.50 lakh had been earmarked for the project.

The highest outlay of Rs.5 crore is for the employment scheme to be implemented with assistance from the State government. The budget had allocated Rs.3 crore for a financial assistance package for farmers to cut down old and diseased coconut trees, plant new ones and adopt intercropping. The slaughterhouse at the town market would be modernised at a cost of Rs.25 lakh, with support from the State sanitation mission.

The budget proposes the construction of waiting sheds for bus commuters at the Market junction, Nettirachira, Valikode, Pathamkallu and Marutinakam. The project is to be executed with the MLA's constituency development fund.

Mr. Sheriff announced an outlay of Rs.3.5 crore for various projects in the service sector. These include total electrification, drinking water schemes, improvement of hospital infrastructure and assistance for anganwadis to acquire land and construct buildings, purchase computers and gas stoves and implement a nutrition programme for children.

In the production sector, the major projects include promotion of paddy farming, horticulture and medicinal plant cultivation, setting up poultry clubs in schools, poultry development, control of rabies, production of vermicompost, self employment for reed workers and modernisation of the Town and Vengode markets.

As much as Rs.3.37 crore had been earmarked for the infrastructure sector. The development and reconstruction of roads, construction of a front office for the municipality, and the beautification of the Ponara park would be taken up using this sum. A car-parking facility at the market shopping complex will also be set up. The budget had set apart Rs.1.22 crore for the development of scheduled castes. In his budget speech, Mr. Sheriff said the local body had been successful in implementing most schemes announced in the last budget. He said 506 families had benefited from the EMS housing scheme. While 76 families were given assistance to purchase land, 430 availed of funds to construct houses.

Slum development

The development of seven slums had been taken up under a Central government-aided scheme. Most parts of the municipality would be brought under a drinking water supply network soon, he said.

The projects for a stadium, solid waste management and crematorium were held up for various reasons. Congress council party leader K.J. Binu, who represents the Manacode ward, termed the budget disappointing and a mere repetition of old proposals. He told The Hindu that the budget displayed a lack of commitment for improving basic infrastructural facilities.

“It is sad that the 29 {+t} {+h} budget of the municipality has not addressed the need for a solid waste treatment plant, crematorium or a stadium, he said.

Garbage plant

The proposal for a garbage treatment plant had to be overlooked following protests from people at Mancha, the proposed location. “Based on the experience of local bodies elsewhere, we understand that only a decentralised approach can resolve the garbage problem. The budget has not earmarked funds to establish mini plants but we propose to implement the scheme in a phased manner,” Mr. Sheriff said.

The budget was adopted by the council by majority. The LDF, which has 18 members, got the support of two Independents. The 2-member BJP council party also supported the budget proposals. The 17 UDF members opposed the budget during the discussion. Municipal chairperson Lekha Suresh, chairmen of various standing committees and Municipal Secretary A.S. Anuja were present.