The Hindu 01.04.2010
Rs. 2.89-crore surplus budget for Raichur CMC presented
Staff Correspondent
| No fresh taxes imposed; 22 new development projects to be implemented |
Rs. 20.66-crore loan expected
from ADB
Rs. 8.5 crore set aside for improving major roads
Raichur: The Raichur City Municipal Council budget for 2010-11 presented here on Wednesday shows a surplus of Rs. 2.89 crore, and no fresh taxes have been imposed.
The budget, presented by CMC president A. Mareppa, expects an income of Rs. 174.12 crore from various sources with an anticipated expenditure of Rs. 171.23 crore.
Unveiling the budget, he said emphasis had been laid on the overall development of the city with the implementation of 22 new projects, mainly to improve facilities in the city. Apart from the funds earmarked for improvement of 35 slums in the city, adequate funds had been reserved for the economic empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
However, M. Eranna and other ruling Bharatiya Janata Party members criticised the budget. They said it did not have new project plans and no importance had been given for development of villages around the city.
Welcoming the budget as “pro-development”, Congress councillors said it was well planned to help achieve development targets. However, there was a need to improve the tax recovery rate, they added.
The CMC expects an income of Rs. 7.52 crore from taxes and various other sources. It also expects a grant of Rs. 5.76 crore from the State Government to meet salaries of municipal employees. Apart from the release of Rs. 30 crore from the Chief Minister's Development Fund, another Rs. 6.05 crore from the Government is expected towards maintenance of streetlights and augmentation of drinking water supply in the city.
The CMC expects a Rs. 20.66-crore loan from the Asian Development Bank for implementing drinking water supply schemes. A Rs. 60-lakh grant is expected from the funds allocated to the member of Parliament and members of the Legislative Assembly.
On the expenditure front, Rs. 8.5 crore has been set aside for widening and improving major roads, Rs. 5.8 crore for improving facilities in villages falling within the CMC limits, Rs. 50 lakh for laying footpaths on Station Road, Rs. 1 crore for development of the moat around the historical fort along Station Road and another Rs. 5 crore for improvement of the district stadium.
There were verbal duels between Mr. Mareppa and other ruling party councillors over collection of deposits from shops on CMC property that had been granted lease.
Mr. Mareppa alleged that the previous council had not been straight while fixing the deposit amounts. Objecting to the allegations, Mr. Eranna demanded that the president prove his allegations or resign.
All ruling party councillors boycotted the budget proceedings and left the meeting hall in protest.
