MMC okays surplus budget; revenue pegged at Rs 7.18 cr
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, MARCH 30
The Margao Municipal Council on Tuesday approved its surplus budget which has laid stressed on revenue collection pegged at Rs 7.18 crore.
At a meeting held this evening, the budget estimates was approved after members emphasized the need to tone up recoveries to fund developmental projects.
The budget has proposed an annual garbage collection fee of Rs 365 on every household, but the MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho maintained that the fees will be levied on the households only after introduction of the door-to-door garbage scheme likely to start later in the financial year.
Coutinho later told newsmen that the Civic body will concentrate on revenue collection from house tax, rents from Municipal buildings, sopo auction, trade and signboards, hire of vehicle/hall and non-specified incomes.
Replying to a question, he said the Civic body expects the government to provide grant-in-aid pegged at Rs 10.20 crore. He said a provision of Rs 10 lakh has been made for scanning all the birth and death records as the records are showing signs of getting mutilated.
A provision of Rs four lakh has been made for cleaning of public wells, while another Rs 10 lakh has been provided for road side cleaning and clearing of bushes.
A provision of Rs one crore has also been made towards initial expenditure for the proposed setting up of a multi-storied parking facility.
Outlining the salient features and achievements, the MMC Chairperson said the Council netted Rs 2.79 crore compared to Rs 2.4 crore by way of house tax during 2008-09. “The revenue by way of rent from land and building went up to Rs 36.37 lakh in 2009-10 as compared to Rs 25.36 lakh during 2008-09”, he said.
Coutinho said the strong financial base of the Council is evident by the fact that that the interest earned by the Council on investments has increased from Rs 12.22 lakh during year 2008-09 to Rs 1.80 crore this year.
Besides, he said the Council has cross the milestone of completion of the Animal Shelter for controlling the population of stray dogs and has set the ball rolling for setting up a scientific garbage treatment facility at Sonsodo.
