Opposition councillors slammed the Corporation Budget 2012-13 arguing that there was nothing new in it, but for a couple of projects, and it was just a reproduction of the previous budgets.
The corporation's failure to come out with a specific plan for establishing an integrated bus stand in the city dominated the discussion on the budget at the council on Tuesday.
Councillors of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the main opposition party, questioned the civic body's decision to identify a new site when the previous regime had identified a 244-acre site at Panchapur in the outskirts of the city for the bus stand. Setting the tone of the discussion, G.Sathyamoorthy, DMK, said the budget has come as a big disappointment for the people, who were expecting new schemes for strengthening the infrastructure in the city and an announcement on the integrated bus stand.
“The move to set up a bus stand in Srirangam is welcome. But otherwise, the budget is a mere copy of the previous one.”
Former deputy mayor M.Anbazhagan, DMK, contended that the Panchapur site for the bus stand was considered an ideal location and the move to identify a new site would only delay the project. His party colleague, T.Muthuselvam, said the people of the city would not forgive the elected representatives if there was any further delay in setting up the bus stand. K.Shankar of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) too regretted the delay in arriving at a decision on the issue.
While Mayor A.Jaya failed to respond to the criticism, J.Srinivasan, AIADMK floor leader, said the corporation did not have the resources to acquire 244 acres and such a huge extent of land was not required for a bus stand. A new site would be identified soon, he asserted, while welcoming the projects announced in the budget. He questioned the motive behind the DMK councillors' intent in setting up the bus stand at Panchapur.
Mr.Anbazhagan also criticised the absence of a commitment on when the underground drainage scheme (UGD) for omitted areas would be implemented. No measures have been indicated to control deficit or expenditure.
With nearly Rs.66 crore going towards salaries, there is no attempt to augment revenue.
The corporation was facing a severe shortage of sanitary and electrical workers and drivers, he said. He and Mr.Sathyamurthy found fault with the corporation for failing to pursue the proposal on construction of a commercial complex at Yanaikulam grounds.
Kavitha Selvam, DMK, observed public sanitation in the city left much to be desired as the civic body was facing a severe shortage of manpower and there was no focus on improving the situation. R.C.Ganesan of the party regretted that the budget failed to give priority for improving amenities in the suburbs while R.Hema, Congress, criticised the absence of a plan of action to bridge the deficit through better tax collection. She also demanded action against plan violations in commercial buildings.
Referring to the drinking water shortage in some parts of the city, M Venkatraj, Independent, said the project was progressing at a slow pace and faulted the corporation for failing to come up with a commitment on commissioning the new drinking water augmentation scheme within a time frame.
The Mayor said the projects announced in the budget such as the foot overbridges and construction of two-wheeler parking lot-cum-commercial complex at Diamond Jubilee building near Gandhi Market would be completed within the financial year.
Steps would be taken to commence work on the proposed commercial complex at Yanaikulam, she said.
Commissioner (in-charge) K.R.Selvaraj, in response to a complaint on the frequent blockages in the existing sewer system, said improvements to the system have been planned under the UGD extension project. City engineer R.Raja Mohamed informed the council that steps were being taken to commence supply from the new drinking water scheme.
