MAPUSA: The Mapusa Municipal Council approved a surplus budget for the year 2017-18 at a special council meeting held, on Tuesday.
Chairperson Sandeep Falari along with 20 councillors approved the budget unanimously.
The council expects revenue receipts of Rs 50,85,65,560 from which the total expenditure would be Rs 50.3 crore for the year 2016-17.
The initial bid of ‘Sopo’ is frozen at Rs 1,10,00,000 by the councils since the sq mt cost is constant as there was no increase in the area of the market and number of shops are the same. Also, the sopo tender will be auctioned at this frozen figure and no extra 10 percent will be added to total amount.
The municipality in its budget also made provision of Rs 82 lakh for street lights and up gradation of electrical infrastructure in all 20 wards. The council also approved Rs 6 crore for the development of infrastructure, roads, gutter repairs and maintenance for the year 2017-18.
The council has increased funding for Municipal library from Rs 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh. Councillor Tushar Tople suggested using the allocated fund to convert the library into e-library.
The Mapusa municipal council will the first to allocate funds of Rs 1.10 crore for maintenance and development of five gardens annually. This will be increased by 10 percent every year.
The chairperson informed that the proposal has been already put up for beautification of gardens at Angod, Karsawada, Chuchelim, Ganeshpuri Housing board and Khorlim and work of the same is in process.
The council has allocated Rs 4 crore for further land acquisition and new projects
The budget also includes provision of Rs 1 crore under MPLAD scheme and Rs 1 crore under JNNURM scheme. The MMC has also decided to get additional revenue of Rs 5 crore by leasing the premises such as the stalls opposite taxi stand, area above gram stalls and the area above market complex.
The MMC owes Rs 29 lakh to a telecom company, while its house tax arrears are Rs 2 crore for 2016-17.
The council expects to collect Rs 4.5 crore by way of house tax in 2017-18.
When asked about revenue generation from liquor shops and bars that would be affected by the SC has order, Chairperson Sandeep Falari said that he expects the next government to come up with a solution to this problem, considering that the ban would affect livelihood of thousands of people.
