KOCHI: Municipal vice-chairman Sabu Francis on Tuesday presented the annual budget for Thrikkakara municipality for 2017-18, with focus on inclusive development.
The budget envisages total income of Rs 153.04 crore and expenditure of Rs 139.39 crore, leaving a surplus of Rs 13.64 crore.
The highlight of the budget is an action plan for solid waste treatment, with the main agenda being total plastic ban.
An allocation of Rs 3 crore has been made for providing financial support to women’s self-help groups to set up paper/cloth carry bag units. A similar amount has been earmarked for the preliminary works to set up a solid waste treatment plant. Another proposal is construction of a water treatment plant at Manakkakkadavu to end the potable water crisis.
Water procured from the Kadambrayar will be treated at the plant, which will be set up at a cost of Rs 50 lakh with assistance from Kinfra. Ponds and wells in the municipality will be revived and tanker lorries will be purchased to beat the water shortage. The total allocation for potable water projects is Rs 5 crore.
The budget also proposes renovation of all the major roads in the municipality, adhering to international standards, for which Rs 10 crore was set aside.
Under the project, two roads will be developed as model roads. Projects worth Rs 6.5 crore have been included in the budget for beautification of the municipality, including remodelling of the children’s park and construction of walkways between the Edachira and Chitrapuzha bridges.