The Hindu 21.03.2013
Focus on drinking water supply, solar power
Rs.1.79-cr. surplus budget for municipality
Pathanamthitta Municipal Vice Chairperson S. Rasheeda Beevi presented the civic body’s budget for 2013-14 on Monday. It envisages revenue to the tune of Rs.27.67 crore and expenditure of Rs.25.88 crore, leaving a surplus of Rs.1.79 crore.
The budget focussed on waste disposal, drinking water supply, and solar power.
The Rs.60-crore project to supply drinking water, to be taken up with Central assistance, in the municipal limits was a major proposal. Modernisation of the district stadium and the construction of an indoor hall had also been proposed.
The civic body would install two solar lamps each in all wards with assistance from the Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology (ANERT) and Rs.45 lakh had been set apart to install solar lamps at the municipal park, market, municipal bus stand, and stadium.
Biogas plants and solar power system would be made compulsory for all new buildings coming up in the municipal limits. As much as Rs.25 lakh had been earmarked for preliminary works of the proposed municipal office-cum-shopping complex at the old private bus stand in the town.
Ms. Beevi said Rs.5 lakh had been set apart to install a statue of K.K. Nair, former MLA, who is regarded as the father of Pathanamthitta district, at the private bus stand. The budget had set apart Rs.5 lakh for drainage renovation work; Rs.14 lakh for the renovation of the Kumbazha market; Rs.50 lakh for the construction of an abattoir with the help of the Sanitation Mission; and Rs.9 lakh for installing e-toilets in the municipal limits.
The budget earmarked Rs.20 lakh to provide subsidy on biogas plants for 3,000 households and Rs.3 lakh to make baby-friendly toilets and procure toys for Anganwadis.
A sum of Rs.5 lakh had been set apart for drinking water supply during summer. The preliminary work on the proposed old-age home at Madukkapuzha would get Rs.15 lakh. The budget also earmarked Rs.10 lakh for the construction of a bridge across the Mukkuzhi canal at Anappara.
Biogas plants compulsory for new buildings Rs.5 lakh for drinking water supply during summer
