For the first time in the history of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the proposed draft budget of `3,850 crore for the financial year 2014-15 will directly be tabled in the GHMC General Body meeting to be held on February 24.

Interestingly, the proposed draft budget has not been discussed or approved by the GHMC Standing Committee.

As per the laid down procedure of the GHMC Act, the draft budget prepared by corporation officials should be deliberated and discussed thoroughly by the Standing Committee members. After incorporating suggestions or objections from the Committee, if any, it has to be approved in the subsequent meeting and the approved draft budget then has to be placed before the General Body for its approval.

Though the GHMC officials submitted draft budget proposals to the standing committee in November last year, and Mayor M Majid Hussain convened two special standing committee meetings to discuss the draft budget proposals two months ago, they had to be postponed as the Congress members skipped the meetings.

The eight Congress members in the Standing Committee objected to the special meeting stating that the draft budget would be approved when a member of their party holds the mayor’s position instead to the incumbent from Majilis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).

As part of the post-election understanding in 2009, the Congress and MIM were to hold the mayor’s post for two years each and the Congress in the fifth year. While one party holds the mayoral post, the other holds the deputy mayor’s.

Thus, this year a Congress candidate has to become mayor. However, the political unrest prevailing over the bifurcation of the state stalled the procedure.  As a result of the stalemate between the two parties, approval for the budget was delayed. GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar then wrote to the state government seeking clarification on the issue.

Meanwhile, a few days ago, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) officials sent a clarification that GHMC commissioner under Section 677 of the GHMC Act can convene a council meeting to discuss important issues, if the Standing Committee failed to do so.

Based on this ground, the commissioner has convened a special meeting to discuss the draft budget at 10:30 am on February 24. Mayor will chair the special meeting.   

The GHMC has proposed draft budget of about `3,850 crore for the financial year 2014-15, a increase of `50 crore compared to current financial year (2013-14).The GHMC officials also submitted proposals to the Standing Committee for revision of budget estimates