TDP inflated figures in budget: YSRCP, CPM

Vijayawada: The Opposition parties, YSRCP and CPM, charged the ruling TDP with inflated figures in its bid to present annual budget for 2019-2020 in the VMC council on Tuesday.

The Opposition parties said there was no scope to get revenue as mentioned by the TDP in the budget. Heated discussion took place between ruling and Opposition parties over the issue.

YSRCP Floor leader Bandi Punyaseela alleged there was no match to the figures mentioned in the budget and actual revenue of VMC. She said the State government was not sanctioning grants properly during the last four years but the VMC was claiming that the government was sanctioning grants for development of city.

She said the ruling party is claiming that crores of rupees have been spent for the cleanliness and beautification of city but there was no progress on it. She said the Eluru canal was filled with dirt and garbage and pointed out that Eluru canal was the best example how the hygienic conditions are in the city.  

She wondered when and where the civic body had spent Rs.24 crore for the development of Minorities in the city. She said, “The ruling party has presented that Rs 24 crore for the development of minorities in the revised budget for the year 2018-2019 and questioned when and how they spent it.

“I did not see any development works implemented for Muslim minorities in the city,” she added. YSRCP Floor leader Punyaseela also asked where the proposed Shadi khana will be built in one town area as shown in 2019-2020 budget.

CPM corporator Gade Adilakshmi alleged the ruling party was misleading the people by showing inflated figures in the budget. She said the VMC was taking loans of crores of rupees and failed to develop the city in the last five years.

Responding to the allegations, Mayor K Sreedhar said the VMC can pay salaries to staff without delay and taking up many development works. He recalled the VMC was not able to pay salaries when it came to power in 2014. 

He said new shops were built in the NTR complex at a cost of Rs.9.97 crore, outfall drain was built at a cost of Rs.47.52 crore to check Budameru inundation, Shadi Khana is constructed in one town at a cost of Rs.13.88 crore, works were taken up at a cost of Rs.112 crore to supply drinking water in various parts of the city, development works were taken up with Rs.62.63 crore with SC/ST sub-plan funds. 

Arguments and counter arguments were taken place between the Mayor and the Opposition party leaders when the issue of Jakkampudi housing units came up for discussion. 

The Opposition parties alleged the VMC collected DDs from beneficiaries but failed to allot houses. Mayor said the meeting was convened to discuss the budget and other subjects should not be discussed in the Council meeting.