CMC approves ` 1.16 cr surplus budget

` One crore earmarked for pedestrians subway

A surplus budget of Rs 1.16 crore, without the imposition of new taxes and renewal of old taxes, was approved for the year 2012-13, at the Chikmagalur City Municipal Council budget meeting on Friday. 

Amidst the heated arguments and hue and cry from the opposition party members, CMC President Prem Kumar presented the budget, at the CMC hall on Friday afternoon. The expected revenue is Rs 30.53 crore. 

Presenting the budget, the CMC President said that the CMC has witnessed financial progress in the last three years and income generation too has seen positive growth. The CMC has succeeded in generating revenue from various sources and the trend should be maintained, he said. 

A sum total of Rs 9.30 crore has been ear marked for the capital section including Rs 90 lakh  for the construction of buildings, Rs 60 lakh for purchasing vehicles, Rs one crore for the construction of footpaths, Rs one crore for the construction of underground drainage, Rs one crore for building the tunnel and flyover, Rs one crore for improving facilities at the solid waste disposal unit, Rs 85 lakh for the water supply and Rs 50 lakh for the development of parks.

For the first time in the history of the Chikmagalur CMC, Rs one crore has been earmarked for the construction of pedestrians subway, to facilitate the public to walk in a crowded areas like KSRTC Bus stand and Hanumanthappa Circle. 

The budget has proposed to develop the park in front of the CMC and Rs 50 lakh has been reserved for the development of all parks in the CMC limits. The parks will be developed on PPP mode. Rs 15 lakh has been earmarked for the construction of auto stands in various parts of the city.

The other expenditures include Rs 4.70 crore for the salary of the employees, Rs 1.46 crore for general administration, Rs two crore for the maintenance of street lights and electricity, Rs two crore for improving the immovable assets, Rs 20 lakh for the development of slums etc.The CMC is expecting Rs 4 crore from SFC grant, Rs 3.50 crore from property tax. 

Good response

As a whole, the budget has received good response from the Councillors. The JD(S) member G S Chandrappa welcomed the budget, but said that grant for some of the developmental work is not satisfactory. 

The CMC should increase the budgetary allocation for the construction of mini bridges, culverts, road and street lights etc.