MAPUSA
In response to the recent inability to pass the annual budget of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) due to constraints imposed by the election code, MMC Chairperson Nutan Bicholkar on Tuesday announced plans to seek permission from the State Election Commission to address the expenditure-related issues.
Bicholkar also disclosed that the special meeting scheduled to discuss and approve the annual budget was cancelled after consultation with all councillors.
She emphasised that upon assuming the role of chairperson in the last week of February, immediate steps were taken to initiate budget preparations, which under normal circumstances should have been completed by January 31.
“I took the initiative to prepare the budget proposals as soon as I took over the reins of the MMC,” Bicholkar stated, highlighting the swift action taken within 15 days to formulate the budget plan, which was subsequently approved by the Standing Committee.
However, despite efforts to convene a special meeting on March 18 to pass the budget, the enforcement of the election code on the preceding Saturday rendered the meeting infeasible. The chairperson acknowledged receiving instructions prohibiting the budget meeting due to the election code, leading to the cancellation of the scheduled session.
She further disclosed that earnest efforts were made to contact the chief officer on the decision to cancel the special meeting, however, these attempts were thwarted as his phone remained unreachable.
The chairperson’s statement underscores the council’s commitment to resolving the budgetary impasse amidst the electoral constraints.
