The Hindu 30.03.2010
Kochi Corporation: Opposition boycotts budget discussion
Staff Reporter
KOCHI: The Opposition councillors of Kochi Corporation on Monday boycotted the budget discussion after a heated exchange between the ruling and Opposition members went out of control and some councillors used abusive language against one another.
Trouble broke out when some of the LDF members objected to the Congress councillor N. Venugopal continuing his speech even after the extended deadline. Though Mayor Mercy Williams invited N. Anilkumar, the Works Standing Committee Chairman, to speak, Mr. Venugopal continued with his speech. This infuriated CPI (M) councillors, who vociferously protested against Mr. Venugopal. At one stage, T.K. Shamsudheen, the Welfare Standing Committee Chairman, and Mr. Venugopal came face to face shouting and hurling abuse at each other.
Repeated attempts of the leaders to pacify the agitated councillors failed and the Opposition councillors started shouting slogans inside the Council hall. Some of them tore away the budget papers in protest before walking out of the hall. Later, they held a protest meeting at the portico of the Council building.
Earlier, participating in the discussion, A.B. Sabu, leader of the UDF in the council, said that the budget was an attempt to hoodwink the people of Kochi. Many of the projects announced earlier were presented in the council as new ones after renaming them. The civic authorities failed in launching new programmes and completing the earlier ones, he said. The administration, which failed to mobilise revenue, was just redistributing the support extended to it by the Central government. It also failed in identifying new revenue sources. Though a large number of buildings have come up in the city, it did not reflect in the earnings of the corporation, he said.
K.J. Antony, CPIM (M) councillor, supported the budget as he felt that it had taken care of the growing demands of the West Kochi area.
The proposal to buy passenger boats would benefit the people of West Kochi.
The budget proposals would help to ensure comprehensive development of the city, he said.
Mr. Venugopal said several errors had crept into the budget.
