Hassan CMC presents Rs 12.84-cr surplus budget

Hassan City Municipal Council (CMC) president H S Anil Kumar presented a Rs 12.84-crore surplus budget for 2017-18 at CMC auditorium here on Thursday.

Kumar said the CMC projected a revenue of Rs 10.20 crore while it collected Rs 9.12 crore till December, 2016. He said Rs 4.50 crore has been set aside for construction of a commercial complex.

The civic body plans to take up works at the dump yard and waste management unit. He said the number of visitors to the city has increased and thus modern toilets will be built at select places. As many as 30 wards in the city have been declared open-defecation free and the CMC aims at making another five wards free of open defecation. The CMC will provide financial aid to the residents to construct toilets and bathrooms, he said.

Anil Kumar said roads and underground drainage would be repaired and streetlights would installed in various parts of the city. This time Rs 82 lakh has been earmarked to construct seven welcome arches in different locations of the city. Under the fuel saving programme, the CMC will replace sodium and metal-halide lamps to LED bulbs for streetlights.

He said Rs 80 lakh has been set aside to develop burial grounds in the city.  Development of waste management units, rainwater harvesting units and renovation of water pumping units were also announced in the budget.

Opposition leader Yashwanth said that the budget has not mentioned details about drinking water projects planned at a cost of Rs 600 crore. He suggested sanction of funds to develop footpaths in the city.

Cong members protest

When the CMC president began presenting the budget, Congress party members staged a protest against CMC officials for “disrespecting” them and for “denying” information to them.