Opposition councillors have condemned the Kozhikode Corporation’s budget for 2017-18, presented by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) on Thursday, stating that the proposals were projects envisaged either by the Centre or the State government.
Taking part in the budget discussions on Friday, councillors belonging to the Congress, Indian Union Muslim League and Janata Dal (United) of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described the budget of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF as old wine in a new bottle. They said the budget had drastically cut down allocation of funds for wards.
However, the CPI(M) councillors said the budget focused on the safety of women and on people-friendly proposals. Deputy Mayor Meera Darshak had presented the budget. The discussions on the proposals will end on Saturday.
There were discussions on issues such as street lights, disposal of waste, distribution of pension and cattle menace on roads. CPI(M) councillor M.M. Padmavathi pointed out that the budget touched all sectors including women’s empowerment, municipal governance and welfare measures.
Congress member Usha Devi said the charter of citizens rights, mentioned in the budget, had been in existence for a long time. Manakkal Sasi of the Congress said the budget did not have proposals aimed at the development of the city. Most projects were either ongoing or hanging fire for years.
Many councillors alleged that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-aided drinking water was yet to be implemented in Cheruvannur region.
M. Kunhamutty of the IUML said the earnings of the corporation from advertisements had decreased to ₹10 crore from ₹12.5 crore.
BJP member N. Satheesh Kumar said the budget had let down the people of Beypore region.
