The Hindu          31.03.2011

Raichur CMC gives approval for Rs. 5.04-crore surplus budget

For the year ahead: President of Raichur City Municipal Council Mamata Sudhakar presenting the CMC budget in Raichur on Wednesday.

Raichur City Municipal Council approved a Rs. 5.04-crore surplus budget for 2011-12 at a special general body meeting here on Wednesday.

Presenting the budget, CMC president Mamata Sudhakar said it had been prepared keeping in mind the demands of the people. Improving roads, establishing a modern vegetable market and setting up a children's park have been proposed.

The expected income is Rs. 85.76 crore and the budget proposes an expenditure of Rs. 80.72 crore towards various development works and payment of salary to municipal employees. It expects to collect Rs. 6 crore property tax, Rs. 2.25 crore water tax, and Rs. 5 crore development cess, fees from the transfer of khatas, and permits for building construction.

Grants

The council expects to get grants from the Government, including Rs. 6.69 crore for payment of salaries to municipal employees and Rs. 6.5 crore for water supply and streetlighting. It also expects a grant of Rs. 1.14 crore from the State Finance Commission and the 13th Finance Commission, Rs. 14.9 crore as part of the Chief Minister's Special Grant and Rs. 60 lakh from the MP and MLA development grants.

Infrastructure

Ms. Sudhakar told the meeting that Rs. 5.5 crore had been set apart to improve five major roads in the city. The roads between Shettybhavi Circle and Thimmapurpet, Mahaveer Circle and Vallabhbhai Patel Circle, Netaji Circle and Shashi Mahal Circle, Vallabhbhai Circle and Geeta Mandir, and Teen Khadil and Ashok Depot Circle will be widened.

Some Rs. 5 crore had been reserved for setting up a modern vegetable market, Rs. 3 crore for construction of overhead tanks at Maddipet, Dattatreya Temple, Old Hospital and Ashraya colonies, Rs. 1.5 crore for establishment of a children's park at the public garden on Station Road, Rs. 1.25 for construction of toilets, Rs. 1 crore for Ambedkar and Jagjevann Ram kalyan mantapas and Rs. 5 crore towards providing quality education and educational assessment programmes.

‘Development-oriented'

While describing the budget as development-oriented, Raichur MLA Syed Yasin said the council should complete the pending work on the express power supply line for proper distribution of drinking water in the city.

Councillors such as G. Shivamurthy, K. Shanthappa, Jayanna, Daroor Basawaraj, T. Mallesh and A. Mareppa welcomed the budget and assured the council of their cooperation in the implementation of the proposed projects. CMC vice-president K. Sulochena and Municipal Commissioner Tippesh were present.