THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Building new infrastructure was the focus of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), which on Monday announced the budget for the financial year 2019-20 envisaging an expenditure of Rs 71.94 crore.
Apart from stress on infra, the council failed to announce any new initiatives or programmes in the financial statement presented at the council meeting.
“Our focus is to construct the new municipal administrative block, beef market and the refurbishing of the municipal market,” said Ryan Braganza, MMC chairperson.
“The council will do its best to improve civic services and offer better facilities to the citizens of Mapusa in a transparent manner,” he added after presenting the budget.
The council has passed a budget estimate proposing receipts of Rs 90.74 crore and expenditure of Rs 71.94 crore. The budget estimates indicate a revenue surplus of Rs 18.79 crore.
The council has earmarked Rs 3 crore for construction of new projects through council funds and Rs 5 crore to take up various development works in the city through grant-in-aid.
It has also decided to take development works of Rs 75 lakh under the MPLAD scheme.
“The council will pursue with the government on the special grant of Rs 20 crore allotted for reconstruction of the Mapusa market on priority,” the chairperson said..
Rs 1 crore has been reserved for Solid Waste Management (SWM), which will come from state and central government grants.
Similar provision was made for SWM in the last year’s budget, but the council failed to receive any grant from the State or the Central government.
The council has decided to utilize the time-tested formula to generate income for the council expecting to collect Rs 4.5 crore by way of house tax and another Rs 1 crore from garbage tax from the houses in the municipal jurisdiction.
The council also expects to net Rs 4.5 crore through construction licence fees and Rs 4 crore from rent from stalls, rents and buildings.
However, a peek at the revenue generation from both these heads last year was just about 50%.
The council also expects to net revenue of Rs 3.50 crore from octroi on petrol/diesel and lubricants but had failed in its objective last year.
Pointing to some unrealistic projections, former MMC chairperson Sandip Falari said it appeared the budget presentation had become a ritual and some projections were not practical at all.
“Some projections made in the budget are very unrealistic. I am not trying to blame anyone but we need to be practical,” Fallari said.
He then went on to point out various lacunas in the projected figures listed in the budget estimates.
Vice-chairperson Marlene D’Souza and councilor Sanjay Mishal also participated in the discussion.
