Mangalore: Budget Approved, MCC Saved from Being Superseded
Prakash Samaga
Pic: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Mangalore, Mar 30: With all kinds of issues worrying the city, from water shortage to roads to drainage facilities, there was fear in some quarters that the situation might worsen as the fate of the annual budget was hanging in balance.
The BJP boycotted the session but mayor Gulzar Banu went ahead with the budget, thus averting the possibility of the MCC getting 'superceded' as in the case of Begaum City Corporation which failed to present its budget.
Mayor Gulzar Banu presents budget amidst boycott and empty rows
The mayor from Congress had to face some tense minutes initially when she requested BJP’s Shantha to present the budget. Even Shantha had a tough time as her own party's Shankar Bhat questioned the authority of mayor Gulzar Banu to instruct Shantha. He termed Gulzar Banu a 'so-called mayor' on the grounds that Congress has no majority in city corporation and BJP’s plea to stay the mayor election is still in the court.
Congress corporators on the other hand flayed Shankar Bhat, saying that he was hindering the development of the city as budget presentation is an important part of any democratic administration.
Ultimately, the BJP corporators were left with no option but to boycott the budget session, as it was a question of ‘prestige’ for them. It was the BJP that prepared budget, but due to their own fault, they had to watch the opposition party presenting it!
Though BJP boycotted the crucial budget session, as per the rules, if one-third of the total members are present during the session, the budget is approved. Thus, among 60 corporators, 21 congress corporators were present, and hence the budget becomes viable.
Confusion galore
Usually, a budget session is followed by a discussion wherein opposition parties raise negative points in the budget. However, in Mangalore City Corporation such is the case that no one knows which is the ruling party and which is opposition. Though BJP has majority, the mayor’s post is held by Congress. Further, though their own party's mayor presented the budget, Congress corporators were not in a position to accept it wholeheartedly as it was prepared by BJP!
Recommendations
Congress corporator Naveen D'Souza said that Rs 1.50 crore should be kept aside in this year's budget for clearing Pacchanady dumping yard as it requires at least two years' time at a total cost of Rs 3 crore. He also demanded an additional Rs 10 lac to be kept aside for traffic signboards. Already, Rs 50 lac is allotted for traffic signals. He also stressed that all residents should have door numbers as some houses are missed out during tax collection and water billing.
Another corporator, Harinath, said that a special task force should be formed to put a lid on unauthorized advertising hoardings which do not earn any income for the MCC, as advertisement tax revenue stood at only Rs 125 lac.
The budget came under the scanner of Congress, CPI(M) and independent members, as BJP members including deputy mayor Amithakala staged a walk-out.
Finally, with some corrections made, mayor Gulzar Banu announced that the budget for the year 2012-13 has been approved.