MARGAO
Will the Margao Municipal Council conduct a review of the deficit budget approved by the Administration during the intervening period when the elected council was not in place?
As a section of the councillors have raised queries over the budget estimates approved for the current financial year 2021-22, Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes said he has no issue if the elected council wants to revisit the budget estimates. “The MMC administration had prepared the budget estimates when the elected body was not in place since the council has to approve the budget before the beginning of the new financial year. If the newly-elected councillors want to incorporate new proposals in the budget, they are welcome to do so”, the Chief Officer said.
Agnelo added: “If the councillors want to revisit the budget, a special meeting will have to be called to discuss, deliberate and make changes in the estimates”.
Former two-time chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar informed that he has come across certain issues in the budget, which needs to be rectified and modified. “Some of the newly-elected councillors may have some points to be incorporated in the estimates”, Ganashyam said, adding that the issue will be raised at the coming Council meeting.
A glance at the budget estimates for the financial year 2020-21 showed total receipts amounting to Rs 52.45 crore and expenditure around Rs 54.17 crore.
Of the Rs 52.45 crores on the receipt side, an amount of rs 1.41 crore represents DA to the Municipal employees; Rs 1.33 crore pertains to the salary to the common cadre staff and staff on deputation; Rs 30 lakh represents honorarium grants, Rs nine crore for various developmental works, Rs five crore for land acquisition, Rs three crore for the rehabilitation of Gaddas, kiosks, Rs 30 lakhs for training program, Rs one crore for the purchase of vehicles and Rs 4 crore for other miscellaneous grants.
