MCC presents a surplus budget of Rs 4.70-crore

Rs 40 cr allocated for drinking water; garbage management gets Rs 62.11 cr

The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) presented a Rs 4.70-crore surplus budget for the fiscal 2017-18 on Friday.

The total revenue receipts are estimated at Rs 869.53 crore, including the opening balance of Rs 190.29 crore while the projected expenditure for the fiscal is pegged at Rs 863.83 crore.

The civic body expects Rs 175.12 crore from property tax; Rs 70.90 crore from water and underground drainage cess. The Palike aims to collect Rs 8 crore and Rs 3.81 crore from trade licence and rent respectively. The revenue also includes funds from the State Finance Commission, state and Union governments.

In the previous budget, the MCC had expected a revenue of Rs 670.03 crore, but, it could collect only Rs 321.48 crore till December 2016. Mallesh in his budget speech, said, that the MCC has earmarked Rs 153.20 crore for construction of new roads and maintenance of existing roads.

“The expenses include Rs 40 crore for drinking water projects; Rs 62.11 crore for solid waste management; Rs 20.87 crore for tree plantation under Social Forestry programme;
Rs 2 crore for rejuvenation of lakes in the city limits; Rs 2.50 crore for permanent illum-
ination lights to the main office of the MCC; Rs 75 lakh for implementation of paperless office,” he said.

He added that Rs 50 lakh has been set aside for holding programmes to mark 155th anniversary of MCC. A series of programmes and competitions will be organised for corporators and the Palike staff. Also, Rs 14.17 crore has been announced for fixing of heritage-type electricity poles on Ashoka Road and to replace existing sodium bulbs with LED bulbs. Besides, Rs 1 crore each has been earmarked for development of the Town Hall and for building e-toilets.

Stray dogs protection unit
Rs 60 lakh has been earmarked in the budget to set up a street dogs protection centre. The unit will come up on five acres of land at Rayanakere Hundi. A sterilisation unit will be set up in the centre, later.  Rs 15 lakh has been reserved to purchase a new hydraulic-powered transport vehicle to shift stray cattle. To make the city free from pigs, the MCC has alloted Rs 50 lakh to provide basic facilities to the piggery.

Seva Ratna awards
In addition, the MCC has allocated Rs 18.41 crore for the welfare activities of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes, and Rs 5.54 crore for the development of other backward communities. Funds have also been allocated to award meritorious students of government schools, and for instituting ‘Mysuru Nagara Sevaratna’ awards. The awards will be given to two eminent persons - one each for a man and woman - in recognition of their services. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a certificate.

Corporator H N Srikantaiah said, even students studying in private institutions should be considered for the awards as their family members also pay tax to the MCC.

Similarly, Corporator M S Balasubramaniam (Snake Shyam) urged Mayor M J Ravikumar and Mallesh to make provisions for health schemes for people’s representatives. He said, many corporators are economically weak and it would be better if they are covered under health schemes.

Palike member M V Ramprasad also supported Balasubramaniam and said, the state and Union governments provide health benefits to the legislators and the MCC should follow the suit.

Corporator Nandish Preetham smelt a scam in procuring LED bulbs. He said, though the market price for 65 watts LED bulbs is Rs 5,100, the MCC has been procuring the bulbs at Rs 18,900.

Nalwadi Soudha sought
Corporator R Ravindra Kumar urged the authorities to allocate funds to build a Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Soudha in the city. Nalwadi launched welfare measures and made an immense contribution to the development of the city. Hence, it is necessary to establish a memorial dedicated to him, he said.