The Hindu 14.03.2013
Budget passed with some tweaks
New proposals included, funds reallocated.
The annual financial outlay of Rs.1,076 crore of the Corporation was passed amid slogan-shouting by the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) councillors on Wednesday.
Addressing a press meet after the session, Mayor K. Chandrika said certain new proposals, such as additional allocation for establishing garbage treatment plants, and setting up of a park, home for senior citizens, de-addiction centre, café and medical shop, had been included in the budget. A portion of the total sum of Rs.50 crore allocated under the head of public works had been withdrawn and made available for the new proposals. An additional Rs.6 crore had been allocated for the proposed garbage treatment plants at Chala, Kazhakuttam, PTP Nagar, and Nemom. With this, the Corporation’s share towards construction of the plants had gone up to Rs.10 crore.
The sum had been allocated in the budget to show the Corporation’s resolve to partner with the State government in setting up the plant, she said. The plants could be set up only if the government took the initiative. The cost for acquiring land and setting up the plant should be borne by the government. The Corporation’s responsibility was to manage the plant, she said.
An amount of Rs.25 lakh had been allocated to develop the quarry sites at Sreekaryam and Kazhakuttam as water bodies so as to supply drinking water to nearby localities.
A sum of Rs.15 lakh had been made available for constructing a park at Pettah, Rs.10 lakh for establishing a de-addiction centre, Rs.10 lakh for setting up a centre for senior citizens, Rs.10 lakh for a new fair price medical shop, and Rs.5 lakh for setting up a cafeteria at Putharikandam Maidanam, she said.
A minor change was made in the budget speech to incorporate a line requesting the State government to allow treatment of 90 tonnes of garbage at Vilappilsala as directed by the Supreme Court, she said.
