Palakkad budget: No new tax proposals, surplus at Rs 11 cr

PALAKKAD: The 150th budget of Palakkad municipality did not put forward new tax proposals and the surplus amount was pegged at Rs 11.08 crore. The 2015-16 annual budget presented in the council by vice-chairperson M Saheeda on Wednesday reported an estimated earnings of Rs 81.53 crore while the expense amounted to Rs 71.51 crore.
To commemorate its 150th anniversary, the municipality will implement five major projects.They are the construction of Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium; indoor stadium; Sultanpet and Kalmandapam shopping complexes and Olavakkode comfort station complex. These projects received sanctions from the state government under the Partner Kerala programme.
The conversion of street lights to AED will also be completed in the next financial year, the vice-chairperson said. She said that three projects - modernization of market; master drainage and footpath programme and conservation of ponds - received government approval and they will be implemented during the financial year 2015-16.
An amount of Rs 3 crore was earmarked for the modernization of the town hall. An amount of Rs 15 lakh was allotted in the budget for installing a ramp/escalator at GB Road railway gate. The municipality has also asked the MP and the MLA to provide fund for the project.
The municipality has allotted an amount of Rs 50 lakh for a solid waste management project. An amount of Rs.5 lakh was allotted for constructing a women's hostel. The budget also proposed to create a chairman's relief fund to help the poor and needy in emergency situations.
A new vehicle parking area is proposed in front of the Indira Gandhi stadium and also at the space available around Palakkad Fort. The vice-chairperson in her budget speech urged the government to make the 150-year-old municipality a corporation.