The Hindu Business Line : Kochi Corporation budget

KOCHI: The annual budget of the Kochi Corporation was presented here on Wednesday without the announcement of any major projects in view of the Election Commission's directive.

No new projects were announced and instead the Finance Standing Committee Chairman and Deputy Mayor, Mr A.V. Goerge, promised to carry forward only the ongoing projects. It is perhaps the first time that a corporation budget without new projects was presented.

The Deputy Mayor anticipated revenue of over Rs 106 crore and expenditure of Rs 97 crore. He also estimated over Rs 9 crore as cash in hand for the next financial year. He has earmarked Rs 81 lakh for drainage works, Rs 1.10 crore for solid waste management projects, Rs 13 crore for mosquito eradication projects, and Rs 10 lakh for public health programmes.

He also stated that the new budget would lay emphasis on completing the ongoing projects and improving the fiscal position of the corporation by tapping new revenue sources and reducing the expenditure. He also offered to implement the garbage removal programme with public participation.