KOCHI: The approach of the ruling UDF and the Opposition LDF to the Budget was on expected lines as the Congress-led civic administration hailed it, while the CPI(M)-led Opposition criticised it.
During the customary media briefing after presenting the Budget, Mayor Soumini Jain and Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod said the Budget attempted to ensure the comprehensive development of Kochi and covered all segments of society. While Ms. Jain was happy that the Budget touched upon all social and economic sections, Mr. Vinod wished to highlight the aspect that the document went soft on tax payers.
However, the civic authorities hope to widen tax net and expect significant increase in revenue with the introduction of Goods and Service Tax (GST). The expected revenue from professionals is ₹10 crore.
Opposition councillors slammed the Budget as a shabby document sans proper accounting and vision.
Chairpersons of standing committees, V.K. Minimol, K.V.P. Krishnakumar, Gracy Joseph, A.B. Sabu, Shiny Mathew, and P.M. Harris were present.
K.J. Antony, leader of LDF councillors, demanded a white paper on the financial health of the local body.
“The administration that could not even get a theme song composed, as promised in the previous Budget, is making tall promises. There has been a significant fall in revenue collection. The LDF will oppose the Budget proposal to tax people who have constructed homes and commercial buildings along the metro corridor. There is no logic for overtaxing people who constructed buildings even decades before the idea of metro rail was mooted,” Mr. Antony said.
LDF leaders V.P. Chandran, C.K. Peter, K. J Basil, and Sheeba Lal were present.
