Pre-budget meeting invokes dull response

Mayor, deputy absent; citizens put forth more grievances than suggestions

The response to the pre-budget meeting at the Mangaluru City Corporation on Tuesday was extremely dull.

The meeting was organised to invite suggestions from the public and organisations on the Corporation budget for the year 2016-17. Thin attendance of the public, officials and elected representatives was recorded. The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor too were absent for the meeting.

The meeting witnessed the presence of 15 general public, 15 MCC officials and five corporators.

The very purpose of the meeting, however, remained unfulfilled as most people who were present at the meeting expressed their grievances rather than contributing suggestions towards an effective budget and ideas for revenue generation by the Corporation.

Corporation Commissioner Dr H N Gopalakrishna said that the total budget of the Corporation was Rs 400 crore, out of which, the government funding is Rs 250 crore and Rs 153 crore is the revenue to be generated by the MCC.

Gopalakrishna Bhat from Pumpwell suggested imposing tax on advertisement hoardings. “Also parking fee could be collected after creating parking lots in various places within MCC limits. Penalty for illegal parking should be increased,” he said.

Rajendra Kumar from Aam Aadmi Party said that the empty spaces in the service bus stand at State Bank could be used as advertisement spaces.

Rohan from AAP felt for a need to allocate funds in the MCC budget for the development of LED street lights in the interior roads. Also empty spaces could be developed as parking lots and revenue could be generated.

Journalist Raviprasad Kamila suggested allocating funds for skywalks in various locations and a flyover at Basaveshwara circle near KPT. Scribe Guruvappa N T Balepuni said that rent should be fixed on daily bases for plastic banners and flexes and concession should be given for cloth banners.

Joint Commissioner Gokuldas Nayak, Chairmen of various Standing Committees Harinath, Keshav Maroli, Deepak Poojary, Prakash Salian and Council Opposition whip Shashidhar Hegde were present.