TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: After initial uproar over today’s meting, the Margao Municipal Council’s budget for the financial year 2013-14 had a smooth passage, with the Civic body approving a Rs seven crore surplus budget.
The budget estimates were approved after initial uproar by Councilors led by Sadanand Naik, who questioned the rationale behind holding of the ordinary meeting along with the budget meeting and when the Municipal vice-Chairperson Pratima Coutinho has quit office. Chairperson Arthur D’Silva stood firm and disallowed the request for a division of votes on the meeting as heated arguments ensued between the Chairperson and Naik over the issue.
After the meeting, MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva said that the budget has laid stress on development of the 20 municipal wards. “We have allocated Rs 60 lakhs for developmental works in each of the 20 wards”, he said.
Chief Officer Sandhya Kamat said the Civic body would tone up revenue recoveries in the coming year.
While the receipts were pegged at Rs 66 crore, the expenditure was put at Rs 59.49 crore, a surplus of Rs seven crore.
Of the Rs 66 crore receipts, Rs 3.22 crore represents DA to Municipal employees, Rs 1.21 crore represents salaries to common cadre, Rs 10 crore for various developmental work, Rs five crore for land acquisition, Rs four crore for grants in lieu of octroi and Rs two crore for installation of biometric compactor, Rs six lakh for installation of computers and Rs three crore for other miscellaneous grants.
Outgoing MMC vice-Chairperson Pratima Coutinho said that the meeting approved a proposal requesting South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha to provide a mobile morgue and hearse van for the Margao Civic body.
