The development priorities and other innovative schemes to be considered for the next fiscal were discussed in detail at a seminar organised by the city corporation here on Thursday.
The priority lists, which were discussed and approved by the 18 working groups, were also presented at the seminar, which was attended by people’s representatives and subject matter experts in various fields.
Mayor Thottathil Raveendran, who opened the event, said the corporation would give due importance to all short-listed proposals and innovative concepts proposed by the working groups in the next Budget. The suggestions will be brought out as a development plan with inputs from various ward sabhas ahead of the finalisation of the Budget draft, he said.
Mr. Raveendran pointed out that the practice of preparing Budget at the last minute had already come to an end thanks to the streamlined planning process and the role played by various working groups to finalise their priorities in advance for the consideration of the council.
He also made it clear that the 2019-2020 Budget would incorporate every possible element to achieve the goals of the government’s mission-mode projects.
Presenting the draft proposals for discussions, P.C. Rajan, chairman of the standing committee on development, said the corporation would be able to win approval for all major development projects by December 31 and implement them at the beginning of the next fiscal. “In the past, the practice was to spend eight long months only for project preparation and the remaining four months for implementation. It had actually derailed several projects,” he observed.
Mr. Rajan said the proposals of working groups covering diverse sectors such as agriculture, education, health, and women’s development and suggestions from various ward sabhas based on local requirements would be compiled for the council’s reference by December 15.
“Last year’s Budget allocation by the State government will be temporarily considered for the preparation of a rough estimate, and it will be revised on the basis of fresh allocations,” he added.
Unlike conventional projects, the 18th working group constituted by the corporation specifically focuses on development concerns in the fields of biodiversity management, climate change, nature conservation, and disaster management. The group has already proposed a disaster management training for select persons from various vocational areas. It has also suggested flood-mapping for disaster-prone areas.
