Mangaluru : The standing committee president for taxes, finance and appeals, Appi, was presented budget for the year 2017-18 by at the MCC auditorium in Mangalore on February 21, 2017.

The Mangaluru City Corporation has proposed to develop road from PVS Circle to Ladyhill as smart road in its budget for 2017-18.

Appi, Standing Committee for Taxation, Finance and Appeals chairperson who presented the budget, said that Rs 2 crore has been earmarked for the purpose. The smart road will be a pothole-free and 100% pavement road with proper footpaths, stormwater drains and streetlights.

Although the MCC had introduced three new cess in the budget for 2016-17 – solid waste management for traders, underground drainage (UGD) and underground cable cess – they were not introduced. Hence, the three cess find place in the 2017-18 budget. Traders will now have to pay solid waste management cess while obtaining trade licence.

Appi said that the cess also applied to renewed trade licences. The Corporation expected Rs 3.07 crore as annual revenue from this cess. Those who use UGD facility of the Corporation will have to pay UGD cess. The civic body expected an annual Rs eight crore revenue from the UGD cess.

Telecom service providers will have to pay cess per km to install underground cables in the city as many companies are digging roads and damaging them. The Corporation expects an annual revenue of Rs four crore from this, she explained.

To make a paperless office in Mangaluru City Corporation and to take up the work on computerisation, Appi said that a sum of Rs 150 lakh has been earmarked. Paperless and 19 online services would be introduced in the MCC from April 1, 2017. Also, Rs 150 lakh has been earmarked for the installation of nameboards on main roads. To increase the green cover and to develop parks, a sum of Rs 3 crore has been kept aside in the budget.

In the backdrop of the city facing acute shortage of water last year, the budget has given thrust on implementing rainwater harvesting in major buildings of the MCC by earmarking Rs 1 crore for the purpose. The MCC will also make rainwater harvesting mandatory in all buildings that are above 100 square metre.

The budget has kept aside Rs 10 crore for the acquisition of land that would be submerged due to storage of water in new vented dam at Thumbe.

In addition, the budget has earmarked amounts for the development of Kadri, Kankanady, Kavoor, Alake, Bikarnakatte, Krishnapura Katipalla, Kaikamba and Surathkal markets. Of the available premium FAR amount, Rs 120 crore would be utilised for the widening of roads, construction of footpaths, stormwater drains in the city.

Stating that the MCC has identified a site at Kunjathbail to dump construction debris, Appi said that Rs 1 crore has been earmarked for the development of the road at the site. Measures would be taken under the 14th Finance Commission to acquire 10-acre private land adjacent to the solid waste management unit at Pacchanady.

To save energy and reduce electricity bills, the MCC will use LED bulbs in streetlights. Solar lighting will be installed in the MCC building at Lalbagh, for which tender would be invited shortly.

A surplus budget of Rs 253.93 crore was presented for 2017-18. The total receipt is Rs 909.76 crore including an opening balance of Rs 285.80 crore. The total expenditure is Rs 655.83 crore.

Mayor Harinath said that the MCC also proposes to construct a bus stand at Kuloor to check the traffic congestion in the city.

Leader of the Opposition in the Council Roopa D Bangera termed the budget as disappointing. The budget should have earmarked amount for repayment of ADB loan borrowed by the MCC for UGD works. No thrust has been given to increase revenue of the MCC by mobilising resources. The budget lacks farsightedness, she commented.