BJP corporators stage walkout as Mayor Gulzar Banu presents budget

Mangalore, March 30: Amidst a walk-out by BJP corporators, Mayor Gulzar Banu presented the Mangalore City Corporation budget herself at the MCC on Friday.

Prior to the commencement of the budget session, BJP Corporator Shankar Bhat giving a slew of reasons, appealed to the Mayor to postpone the budget presentation session. Arguing that Ms. Banu does not deserve the opportunity to be sitting on the Mayor's seat to conduct the budget session as the High Court is yet to give its verdict on the issue of faulty Mayoral election procedure, Mr. Bhat also said that a few more changes needed to be made in the budget as the BJP being the ruling party had drafted the budget. He even said that since no appointment of finance standing committee chief has been made, it is inappropriate to present the budget now.

To this, Congress corporators raised objections and argued that no scope should be given for discussion prior to the presentation of the budget. They said that since the matter of Mayoral elections is still with the Court, discussion concerning it would amount to contempt of court. They also said that the BJP was talking about making changes to the budget which it has prepared itself after having approved it from its own party office.

Heated exchanges took place between corporators of Congress and BJP right in front of the well of the House. JDS Corporator Abdul Azeez and other independents too joined in the chaos and shouted slogans against BJP.

BJP Corporator Shantha who was asked by the Mayor to present the budget, refused to oblige stating that her fellow party corporators who are in majority want postponement of the budget session. Following this declaration from Ms. Shantha, the Mayor announced that she would read out the budget speech herself. With this announcement, all BJP Corporators staged a walkout.

Ms. Banu presented the budget herself. Following the budget speech, independent Corporator Mariamma Thomas seeking permission from the Mayor to present her view and analysis of the budget said requested that Rs 25,000 be set aside for 'Kuteera Bhagya' plan rather than the proposed Rs 15,000. She also said that the Corporation should be earning higher income in the form of rents on advertising hoardings in the city as opposed to current revenue. She also expressed dissatisfaction at Rs 35 lakhs being set aside in the budget for maintainence of street lamps and related works stating that it would not be sufficient. Ms. Thomas also appealed to the Mayor to provide sintex tanks to BPL card holders so that they can store water when the Corporation supplies water to them through tanker services.

One of the Congress Corporators demanded that attention be given to clearing of the Panchanady dumping yard. An appeal was made to set aside Rs 1.5 crore to clear that dumping yard and make that land available for the Corporation in addition to keeping aside Rs 10 lakhs for road signs, humps and reflectors across the city.

Harish, Independent Corporator, presenting his views said that the Corporation is way too dependent on Government grants and should chalk out plans to increase its own income generation and be less dependent on the state government for grants. Stating that only about 20% of the expenses have been set aside for development, he would not call it a developmental budget.

JDS Corporator Abdul Azeez called it a 20-20 budget since both Congress and BJP had a role in the budget preparation. He too demanded that Rs 25,000 be set aside for 'Kuteera Bhagya' plan rather than the proposed Rs 15,000.

Some Budget highlights:

• Rs. 3 crore for Thumbay Dam development for the year 2012-13.
• Rs. 10 lakhs for victims of natural disasters.
• Rs. 15 lakhs for sports and encouraging sportspersons.
• Continuation of Rs. 15,000 for beneficiaries of 'Kuteera Bhagya' project – house repair funds BPL card holders.
• Rs 25,000 for 'Tali Bhagya' project – For poor girls from SC/STs categories for their weddings
• Free birth certificate and baby kits for newborns of BPL families.
• Rs. 13 crore for development works, Rs. 2.95 crores for development of SC/STs, Rs. 93.60 lakhs for city poverty eradication and social welfare, and Rs. 39 lakhs for physically handicapped.
• Rs. 1.75 crores for drainage works
• Attempts to be made to set up multilevel car parking system (approximate capacity of 600 cars) at Hampankatta old bus stand area as a revenue source.
• Identification of prominent locations and creations of more bus stands as roads have undergone concretization in many places.
• CCTV cameras to be installed in all departments to facilitate better administration and ensure that officials carry out their duties with sincerity.
• 'Nagara Mitra' centre has been established for the citizens to get complete information on works taken up in the areas coming under the jurisdiction of the Corporation.