Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Rs. 9-crore deficit budget

Staff Reporter

Corporation plns to upgrade roads at a cost of Rs.72 crore

MADURAI: The Mayor, C. Ramachandran, presented a Rs. 9-crore deficit budget for the Madurai Corporation for 2006-07, on Friday.

As against the total estimated income of Rs.136.87 crore, expenditure has been put at Rs.145.93 crore. However, the Chief Accounts Officer, Mariappan, said the deficit could be wiped off through an expected higher devolution fund from the State Finance Commission and the 12th Finance Commission, besides arresting "leakage" of revenue.

The fifth and final budget of the current council did not feature any new scheme for the city, but for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Scheme, which envisages upgradation of basic infrastructure at a cost of Rs.1,477.40 crore in seven years. The second pipeline project from Vaigai dam, which figured in the first budget of the present council, featured in the 5th budget too. However, the estimated cost of the scheme has gone up to Rs.68 crore. The city also proposes to upgrade its bad roads at a cost of Rs.72 crore with Centre's assistance.

Among the salient features proposed are the Rs.25 lakh-musical fountain at Eco Park and a Rs.10-crore modern theme park near Mattuthavani Integrated Bus Stand. On the education front, the Corporation will provide one multimedia computer centre each for the four zones to train students of schools run by the local body. Further, on e-governance, the budget proposes to set up video-conferencing facility connecting the Mayor and the Commissioner with all the four Assistant Commissioners.

First biennial budget

Incidentally, Mr. Ramachandran presented a biennial budget for 2006-07 and 2007-08, for the first time as per the new directive from the State Government. "This is to ensure that major projects do not get stuck midway," the CAO said. The revised budget for 2006-07, along with modifications, if any, would be presented during the next budget session, he said.

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