The annual budget of the Kochi Corporation presented the other day has evoked mixed response from various quarters. The ruling front says the budget is a people-friendly one while Opposition of the Kochi Corporation thinks it an eyewash.
“The budget presented by Deputy Mayor B Bhadra is really an immature one. If we analyse the last three budgets presented by the present leadership, we can easily find out that apart from a bundle of promises, no steps have been taken by the authorities to implement any of the projects,” said Opposition councillor M Anilkumar. He said the major drawback of this year’s budget is that it lacks vision and expertise.
“They have not consulted town planning experts or the stake holders of city’s development before preparing the budget. This is why the projects mentioned are not realistic and feasible,” he added.
However, the majority of the experts said the Corporation authorities have tried to take credit of some of the proposals mooted by the Kochi Metro Rail Limited and the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA).
“They have even proposed a musical walkway at Marine Drive. These are being implemented by the GCDA. How they can take credit of such projects?,” asks Kochi Corporation Opposition leader K J Jacob. Meanwhile, the ruling front members have countered the allegations and said that there are new projects in the budget.
The officials added that they were confident that they would be able to carryout the majority of them in this fiscal year itself.
Anyhow, the budget discussion session that will held on Monday will be a stormy one with the Opposition set to question the feasibility of various proposals mooted in the budget.