Opposition walks out as BMC passes ‘elitist’ budget
In the early hours of Saturday,the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations ruling coalition of Sena-BJP corporators passed the amended budget for 2012-13.
In the early hours of Saturday,the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s ruling coalition of Sena-BJP corporators passed the amended budget for 2012-13. The Congress-led Opposition,however,walked out of the general body meeting after 12 hours terming the budget ‘elitist’.
Congress corporator and Opposition leader Dnyanraj Nikam said Opposition members walked out after 12 hours around 2.45 am after Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte finished presenting the budget. “The budget is against the interests of the common man. There has been no check on taxes for the past three years. Taxes on property,water,electricity and everything else have risen substantially,affecting the daily life of people,” said Nikam.
On Friday,the meeting began an hour late at 3 pm. The civic body has deliberated the budget over two weeks for 40 hours,with 109 corporators speaking during the discussion.
Samajwadi Party leader Raees Sheikh said,“It is an anti-poor budget and has allocated only Rs 161 crore for slum improvement. This is not even a fraction of the total budget,which is over Rs 26,000 crore. The municipal authorities are under-utilising the money as only bogus statements are made. Almost 60 per cent of the budget remains unused.”
Senior Congress leader Pravin Chheda said the Opposition did not trust the civic body’s allocation of funds. “Big plans have been made in the past three years,but so many projects have not taken off yet. This only escalates the costs each year. Now with six months left before the next budget,for which preparations will begin in October,when will this budget be implemented?” he said.
Standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena corporator Rahul Shewale,however,said the amended budget was meant for the poor. “The corporation has accepted our suggestions. Most policies are meant for the poor. With 15 per cent of the city housing and 85 per cent of the population in slums,our budget has allocated above 50 per cent for slum improvement. We even have a gender budget for the uplift of poor women. If the Opposition members read the budget carefully,they would understand that it is pro-poor. Also,the state government has made special provisions to ensure that the budget on important issues is implemented immediately. So,most of the significant allocations have been in the process of tendering for the past four months as we cannot wait for deliberation. By October 1,the administrative routine should be completed and rest of the budget will be implemented on time.”
ELITIST OR NOT?
Points covered in BMC CHIEF Sitaram Kunte’s budget speech
Octroi: It will be collected from outstation trains coming into the city. A state security kiosk will be set up to check all baggages entering the city through the railways.
Roads: The BMC will continue to make roads and fix potholes using the cold mix technology as recommended by the STAC. Manholes made of iron will be replaced by those made of fibre to prevent thefts. These have no resale value in the market.
Potholes: Kunte has announced that all potholes will be filled in time for the Ganpati festival.
Pay and park: Trading higher FSI for developing pay-and-park spaces,the BMC is set to acquire 39,500 such spaces across the city this year. The first parking lot will be functional in 15 days.
Bridges: Repairs on BMC’s 34 bridges will be undertaken in this financial year.
The civic body is in talks with the SRA and MMRDA to address the slum rehabilitation problem for the speedy progress of its ambitious stormwater drain plan.
Tansa pipeline: Following the 2008 HC order to evict illegal slumdwellers living within 10 m on the either side of the pipeline,the BMC has created an action plan for their eviction in two years. It will be presented to the court for approval.
Senior citizens: On October 1,the BMC will implement a new policy for enhancing the wellbeing of senior citizens.
Female foeticide: An active tracking software will be set up at all BMC hospitals and dispensaries to detect sonographies.
Corporators’ honorarium: Kunte has stalled the honorarium hike from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 on the basis that it should be rationalised with MLAs’ honorarium. The BMC is discussing the possibility of a pension fund for corporators.
Share
