Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Rs.18.91-crore deficit budget presented

PHOTO: R.M.RAJARATHINAM

cost-cuTting: Chairman of Tiruchi Municipal Corporation Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance G.Ramesh tabling the budget at the council meeting on Tuesday. —

TIRUCHI: Proposals on the second phase of the underground drainage scheme, improvements to city roads at an outlay of Rs.100 crore under the Tamil Nadu Urban Road Infrastructure Programme (TURIP), strengthening the grievance redressal mechanism through computerisation and preparation of ward-level topographical survey maps are some of the prominent initiatives outlined in the Tiruchi Corporation Budget for 2009-10.

The budget projects a deficit of Rs.18.91 crore, attributed primarily to the increase in salary bills on account of the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations and an increase in outflow for debt servicing.

The Budget estimates projects the civic body’s revenue for the next financial year at Rs.217.19 crore and expenditure at Rs.236.10 crore. The revised estimates for 2008-09 shows a deficit of Rs.7.14 crore though the Budget had projected a deficit of Rs.18.92 crore.

The civic body had managed to bring down the deficit through cost-cutting and financial discipline, Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance Chairman G. Ramesh said presenting the Budget at an urgent meeting of the Corporation Council here on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Sarubala R.Tondaiman.

The Corporation hopes to meet the revenue shortfall next year by ensuring better tax compliance and expeditious settlement of tax-related litigations. Fifteen per cent of the Corporation revenue would come by way of property tax and the State devolution funds would account for about 31 per cent. Salaries and pension bills account for 63 per cent of the Corporation’s revenue expenditure.

The Budget makes a provision of Rs. 1 crore in anticipation of the government sanction for the Rs.100-crore road development project under TURIP. Though an announcement on the proposed second phase of underground drainage scheme, to cover the omitted areas in the city, has been made, no allocation has been made. Preliminary works for the Rs.192-crore project would begin this year.

In an attempt to improve grievance redressal mechanism, the Corporation has planned to computerise its main office to make it a “corporate” setup. An allocation of Rs.2 crore has been made for the construction of Golden Rock zonal office at Sengulam Colony ground.

The Budget sets aside Rs.80 lakh from the Corporation general funds for executing the Anna Nagar Link Road, expected to take off during the course of the year. About Rs.1.50 crore has been earmarked for improving amenities in unapproved layouts which have been regularised under a government scheme which has been granted an extension.

The infrastructure of Corporation schools would be strengthened at an estimate of about Rs.4.50 crore. On the Health front, Rs.50 lakh has been allotted for purchase of equipment and medicines for the Corporation hospitals.

The Budget makes a provision of Rs.50 lakh for preparation of ward-wise topographical surveys to map the civic infrastructure including roads, drainages, drinking water network and street lights. Such survey maps have already been prepared on a pilot basis in five wards in the K.Abishekapuram zone.

The Corporation Council would take up the Budget for discussion at a later date, Mrs.Tondaiman announced.

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