GVMC allots more funds for education, health

Visakhapatnam, Dec. 25: The Greater Visakha Municipal Corporation (GVMC) will have a budget of Rs 1,802 crore for 2010-2011 financial year including the opening balance, official sources said.

An amount of Rs 749 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) is being shown separately. Since no significant work was taken up in the wards, bowing to the pressure of corporators, much of the budget has been earmarked for engineering works.

Total works under the engineering department would be around Rs 280 crore. The budget will also suggest austerity measures for officials and the corporators.

Allocation for education and health has been increased. Funds for both the departments has been increased by 20 per cent. The health sector will have an allocation of Rs 123 crore, sources said.

Without using JNURM funds, Rs 100 crore would be spent for water supply. Funds for maintenance of parks has shown a slight increase from Rs 19.6 crore to Rs 203 crore, and Rs 11 crore will be spent for maintenance of cremation grounds in the corporation limits.

Regarding income generation, Rs 447.75 crore was shown through general funds, Rs 128.7 crore through water revenue and Rs 226.64 crore advances from various sectors.

Event grants from the central and state governments were shown in the budget. The corporation expects Rs 30 crore for widow pension and Rs 10 crore for poverty alleviation as a grant from state government.

These proposals have to be approved by the general council by January 10. Opposition corporators will press for more funds for sanitation which has deteriorated in the last few months and led to the spread of communicable diseases on a large scale in the city.