SILIGURI: SMC budget draws flak

Siliguri, March 29: The Trinamul Congress today accused the Congress-led Siliguri Municipal Corporation of presenting an aimless and biased budget, further straining the relationship between the two parties whose alliance had ousted the Left Front from the civic body after a stint of three consecutive terms.

Mayor Gangotri Dutta, the first woman mayor to place a budget in the state, came under attack from Trinamul Congress district president Gautam Deb. “This is a dry budget drawn up by corporation officials. The mayor could have consulted economists and town planners to give new direction to the manner in which our civic body is run,” said Deb.

Dutta placed a Rs 182.88-crore budget with a deficit of Rs 1.64 crore.

“The mayor only read out projects and proposals that were drawn up by the CPM board during its regime. This is a reflection of the Congress’s tacit understanding with the Left party,” alleged Deb.

The bad blood between the two parties came to the fore in October last year when Dutta, along with SMC chairperson Sabita Devi Agarwal, were elected with support from the Left councillors.

On a green note, Dutta announced that at least two trees had to be planted on land for which building plans were placed before the corporation for sanction. Without imposing any new taxes, Dutta said funds would be mobilised through collection of arrears and dues.

CPM leaders, too, were critical of the budget. Nurul Islam, the former mayor and present leader of the Opposition in the SMC, said the budget hardly had any new projects. “Most of the projects announced by the mayor were initiated by us. Also, there is no mention as to from where the funds will come for the projects,” he said.

The discussion on the budget will be held on Wednesday. None of the parties in the Opposition confirmed if they would vote in favour of the budget or not.

source;The telegraph