The New Indian Express 18.11.2009
Guruvayur municipality thrust on water supply
Guruvayur municipal vice-chairman R V Sheriff presenting the budget for the year 2009-‘10 at the Municipal Council Hall in Guruvayur on Tuesday. Chair
GURUVAYUR: A development-oriented budget of the Guruvayur municipality for 2009- 10 was presented before the council here on Tuesday. The proposals in the budget will help turn Guruvayur into a clean city, said Municipal vice-chairman and finance standing committee chairman R V Sheriff while presenting it.
The budget shows revenue receipts totalling Rs 66,11,30,686 and an expenditure of Rs 62,59,57,014, thus leaving a surplus of Rs 3,51,73,672.
The preliminary budget presented in March had been constrained to follow the Election Commission directives owing to the Lok Sabha polls.
Tuesday's budget gives the highest priority to improvement of infrastructure facilities at Guruvayur which has a low resident population (of nearly 22,000) and a high floating population of about 3.5 crore devotees and visitors every year.
Measures to combat the acute potable water shortage in the temple and its premises also get top priority: A sum of Rs 1 lakh has been earmarked for the Rs 52-crore Karuvannoor river water supply scheme under the Centre's Urban Infrastructure Developement Scheme for Small and Medium Towns being implemented with aid from the State Government, Guruvayur Devaswom and the Chavakkad municipality.
The allocation for sewage treatment plant, solid waste management, rest houses, modern traffic islands, better roads and parking areas, toilet facilities, high mast lights around the town, round-the-year pilgrimage information counter and development of municipal library.
Beautification of the town and completion of construction works and parking bay at the municipal town hall have also been given thrust. Funds for improving the taxi and bus stands, library, installation of spitting bowls and big dustbins in and around the town have been allocated.
The vice-chairman appreciated the support from the Union Government as well as Guruvayur MLA K V Abdul Khader, Thrissur MP P C Chacko and former MP C K Chandrappan.
The town will also introduce biocards for every resident with details of education, health and economic status of the family, he said. The budget will be taken up for discussion in the next two days at the council.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BUDGET
* To rebuild Guruvayur as a clean and holy city for the new generation
@ Speedy implementation of drinking water supply scheme
@ Infrastructure development programmes to ensure the welfare of devotees/ visitors
@ Beautification of the temple town
@ Prohibition on plastic
@ Speedy implementation of sewage treatment plant and solid waste management plants
@ Installation of public spittoons and dustbins
