Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, Mar 25: Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) presented its budget for fiscal year 2015-2016 on Tuesday March 24. With no new projects or schemes announced, the budget drew flak from the opposition BJP.

Presenting the budget, Harinath, president of standing committee for finance and taxation, said that the corporation expected to earn a revenue of Rs 35,524.30 lacs while the total expenditure was estimated at Rs 35,522.80 lacs.

Vented dam at Thumbe

The second vented dam at Thumbe, which was built to meet the drinking water needs of the city till 2026, is nearing completion. The water storage in the vented dam at Thumbe is limited for 45 days, and in order to raise the storage for 120 days, the state government initiated a new vented dam at a cost of Rs 75.50 crore under the Karnataka City Water Supply and Sewerage Board, and 70 percent of the work has been completed and the project is expected to be completed by June end this year. After this, water scarcity in the city will be reduced to a major extent, Harinath said.

Chief Minister’s Grant

Rs 100 crore has been released under the special grants of Chief Minister, out of which Rs 94.74 cores has been spent on road development. Out of the Rs 100 crore funds under the second phase of Chief Minister’s Special Grant, only Rs 50 crore has been released between 2012-2015, and the remaining Rs 50 crore is expected to be released this year.

Under third phase of Rs 100 crore Chief Minister’s Grant for development works in the city between 2014-15 to 2016-17, roads in 60 wards, drains and pedestrian paths and other works at Rs 55 crore, renovation work for water supply department at a cost Rs 15 crore, drain expansion works, UGD work at Rs 15 crore, transport system improvement work at Rs 5 crore, street lights, multi-level parking complex, shopping complex, and other essential works at Rs 10 crore have been planned.

In 2015-16, Rs 14 crore has been earmarked for development works, out of that Rs 9.19 crore has been allotted for other development works, Rs 3.37 crore for ST/SC developement programmes, Rs 1.01 crore to eradicate poverty and social welfare, Rs 42 lac for disability welfare fund, and Rs 3.68 crore for pending bills payment.

Central government's 13th Finance Commission

Under the 13th central Finance Commission between the period 2010-11 to 2014-15. in order to build roads, bridges and other works Rs 48.96 crore has been released, out of which Rs 18.52 crore has been used for water supply, drainage system, solid-waste management, roads, maintenance and repairs infrastructure etc. The remaining amount will be spent for similar works in the coming days.

Solid waste management

Harinath said that Mumbai-based company Antony Waste Handling Pvt Ltd has taken charge of garbage disposal with a contract period of seven years. It is doing door-to-door garbage collection, transportation of waste, street sweeping, divider cleaning, vegetation cutting/trimming and various other sanitation works. The company is using 55 door-to-door garbage collection mini tippers, 16 compactors and has a staff of 657 to clean the city.

Scientific waste management

A contract of six years has been given to M/S Unique Waste Processing Company Limited, responsible for aerobic composting, worm composting and ensuring proper disposal of trash and other waste products to landfill.

Under Swasta Kuteera Scheme, beneficiaries will get Rs 20,000 for the year 2015-16. Last year it was Rs 15,000.

Also, the MCC earmarked Rs 3 crore to build new Kankanady market.

Old wine in new bottle, says opposition

The opposition party members were unhappy with the budget. Shridhar Shetty said, "There are no new schemes, only a few crores have been added to the last year's schemes. This is nothing but old wine in a new bottle. The district incharge minister had promised to make the district free of kerosene, but till now 6,000 applications are pending for supply of gas stoves. No special arrangement in this regard has been made in the budget, so how the city be kerosene-free. Where are the funds for this?"

MCC opposition leader Premananda Shetty said, "We expected special schemes, but we are really disappointed with the budget as there is nothing new. We want the city to grow, but this budget will not contribute to it at all. This is a zero budget and I strongly oppose it."

Mayor Jacintha Alfred, MCC commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati and others were present the budget meeting.