Madikeri CMC presents Rs 3.50 crore surplus budget

Amid the boycott by the BJP members, CMC President Kaveramma Somanna presented the budget for 2018-19.

With the upcoming assembly elections and the code of conduct to follow, the CMC president has presented the budget in a hurry. "The budget has not been prepared as per the guidelines, and  all the members were not taken into confidence," said BJP and JD(S) members K M B Ganesh and Leela Sheshamma. The BJP and JD(S) members boycotted the meeting.

Members of the Opposition alleged that suggestions from the public were not collected before preparing the budget. The budget copy was sent to all the members on Sunday.

Though Congress members H M Nandakumar, SDPI member Ameen Mohisin and Mansoor Ali appealed the members to allow the budget presentation, the opposition members continued to level allegations.

Finally, president Kaveramma Somanna presented the budget. Commissioner B Shubha said that the discussion on the budget will be held after three days.

Surplus budget

The Madikeri CMC budgetary estimates for the financial year 2018-19 indicates a surplus of Rs 3.50 crore with a projected revenue of Rs 65.87 crore and expenditure of Rs 62.37 crore.

The CMC has decided to spend Rs 85 lakh for water supply, Rs 15 lakh on NULM training, Rs 1.6 crore on repair of crematorium and markets, Rs 25 lakh for honorarium for Council members and study tour, Rs 40 lakh on maintenance of streetlights, Rs 2.37 crore for sanitation, Rs 20 lakh for implementation of Swaccha Bharath, Rs 2.35 crore on supply of drinking water and electricity, Rs 15 crore on maintenance of buildings, Rs 20 lakh on purchase of furniture, Rs 30 lakh for the constrction of toilets.

Further, Rs 2.6 crore has been earmarked for the welfare of SC/ST, backward classes and the physically challenged.

The CMC is expecting Rs 2.63 crore from property tax, Rs 1 crore from water bill and deposits, Rs 1.25 crore for rent of the stalls, Rs 1.25 crore from trade license, Rs 30 lakh from parking fee, Rs 40 lakh from market fee, Rs 30 lakh from toy train, Rs 30 lakh from advertisements, khata change fee and others.

The CMC budget has earmarked Rs 1.85 crore for construction of buildings, Rs 30 lakh for welcome arch, compound wall and installing name boards for the roads; Rs 6.10 crore for footpath, retaining wall and drains; Rs 1.5 crore for installing streetlights; Rs 1 crore for stormwater drains construction; Rs 2 crore for development of lakes; Rs 2 crore for development of markets; Rs 80 lakh for development of gardens, and Rs 30 lakh for solid waste management.