Team Herald
Vasco: The annual budget meeting of Mormugao Municipal Council for the year 2023-24 was held on Friday. The revenue stood at 3823.30 lakh while the expenditure was 3772.40 lakh. Hence, the surplus budget in the budget showed 1.5 cr.
Although the budget looks good on paper, some councillors raised doubt as to what extent it will come true.
With the MMC’s financial state dwindling, the presentation of the surplus budget raised eyebrows of many. To put the civic body’s financial state into context, the workers’ salary for January month was paid just three days ago.
The meeting was held at Ravindra Bhavan’s conference hall and was attended by Chairperson Leo Rodriguez, deputy chairperson Amey Chopdekar, chief officer Jayant Tari, councillors and other officials.
Councillors expressed disappointment over lack of implementation of resolutions which are passed during municipal meetings. MMC’s major source of income is house tax and municipal properties given on lease. Questions were raised if the number of houses which are in the reports exist in the real world. Some pointed out that around 1000 houses along the Baina stretch were demolished; however those houses are still registered in the municipality. It’s also shown that the house tax of these buildings are rising. Members suggested a survey of buildings in the jurisdiction of MMC for things to become clear.
