the goan I network
VASCO
Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Nandadeep Raut on Friday presented a “revenue surplus budget” at a special budget meeting on Friday, adding that the MMC had Rs 15 crore balance available to take up developmental works in the port town.
However, the 11 opposition councillors boycotted the budget meeting and later claimed that the budget was fictitious with inflated figures that were mismanaged.
Speaking to the media after the budget meeting, Raut said the MMC had presented a revenue surplus budget of Rs 357.80 lakh and a consolidated budget of Rs 1,536.77 lakh.
“We have provided funds for the retirement of our municipal staff. We have also allocated budget for a garbage treatment plant to ensure garbage menace is handled efficiently. The MMC has Rs 15 crore balance as of now. If we utilise this amount for developmental works, we will get more funds from the government,” said Raut
Raut thanked Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, Waste Management Minister Michael Lobo and Urban Development Minister Milind Naik for having taken steps to clear around 1.2 lakh tonnes of legacy waste from the Sada garbage dump site.
“Credit goes to all 25 councillors who are united to make Vasco a garbage-free town and MMC will soon achieve this target.”
Asked about the absence of the opposition councillors, Raut replied: “I don’t know why opposition councillors were not present for this budget meeting. All were informed two days ago about the budget meeting. Only 14 councilors were present at the meeting.”
“I am still open to any queries from opposition councillors in case they have doubts,” said the MMC chairperson.
When contacted, former MMC chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar described the budget as fictitious, exaggerated and unrealistic.
“If we see the 2019-20 figures, the recovery is Rs 107 lakh and in another few months, the chairperson is expecting that Rs 53 lakh will be recovered. So a total of Rs 1.62 crore will be recovered.”
However for the year 2020-21, Rs 10 crore has been shown budget recovery. Looking at this exaggerated figures, I feel the budget is not surplus. The MMC plans to recover dues from some companies which have already gone to court, making the recovery amount look difficult.”
“Besides, if the budget is surplus, why is MMC struggling every month to release salaries of municipal labourers and staff,” asked Gaonkar.
Councillor Murari Bandekar said the expected recovery figures which have been mentioned in the budget were unrealistic.
