Mapusa council goes bullish on gardens, allocates Rs 1 cr
MAPUSA
In a budget that has many firsts, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has earmarked a whopping Rs 1 crore for development and maintenance of gardens in Mapusa while presenting a Rs 5.5 crore surplus budget for the financial year 2016-17.
A provisional budget of Rs 51.23 crore receipts and Rs 45.92 crore expenses for the financial year was passed by the council on Friday.
In a boost to the workers who toil to keep the city clean, Rs 50 lakh has been allocated for “upliftment of safai karmacharis”, which is also a new allocation in the budget.
For the first time in the history of Mapusa, the council has also made provision of Rs 20 lakh for Swacch Bharat Abhiyan, Rs 25 lakh for solid waste management, Rs 25 lakh for repair of market buildings and Rs 5 lakh for insurance premium to municipal market.
“New gardens will be developed in various wards. At least five to six gardens will be created in this financial year around Mapusa,” said MMC Chairperson Sandeep Falari while presenting the council budget.
He said Rs 5 lakh has also been allocated as insurance premium for the municipal shops in the market.
“So far the owners of the municipal shops got benefit only if their goods perished in an accident. They were not covered for the physical damage to the structure. With this allocation, their shops will also be covered,” he said and added that the shop owners will have to make matching contribution for the insurance premium.
According to the standing committee recommendation, a budgetary allocation for repair of municipal market buildings have also been made, he said.
The chairperson disclosed that the budgetary provision for 'safai karmacharis' was made as per the direction of the national commissioner of 'safai karmacharis'.
“We are yet to receive instructions on how to spend the money. Based on the directions of the national commissioner, we will take further steps,” the chairperson said.
However, the council has decided to go with the same amount as that of last year of Rs 1.21 crore for the Sopo collection from the market vendors/hawkers.
“Every year, we increase the Sopo tender by 10 per cent. This year we decided to retain the same figure as last year basically to streamline the market,” the chairperson said.
He said once the vendors are shifted inside the new vegetable market, a lot of space will open up in the market.
“The council plans to bring additional area under pay parking in the market area, which will generate revenue to the council,” he said.
In the budgetary exercise of 2016-17, the council decided to streamline various issues for the new financial year.
“Some projections made last year were very unrealistic. We have rationalized certain budgetary heads. The budget that is presented is a realistic one,” he said.
