BMC gives nod to Rs26,581 crore budget

The general body of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday approved the budget of Rs26,581 crore for the on-going fiscal amidst protests from opposition parties.

The budget was approved by the ruling coalition without much change to the financial plan presented by former civic chief Subodh Kumar in March this year even as Opposition parties like the Congress, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) staged a last-minute walkout alleging that the plan had nothing for the citizens. The walkout was staged despite requests from ruling party members like BJP group leader Dilip Patel.

“There is no fruitful recommendation for the common people of Mumbai in the budget. Hence, we staged a walk-out,” said Opposition leader Dnyanraj Nikam before tearing apart documents related to the session which got over at 2:45am on Saturday. Around 109 councillors, including 72 from the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP, took part in the discussions for 40 hours. Members of the House with 232 seats made suggestions over various issues concerning Mumbaikars.

Speaking to the media after the session, civic chief Sitaram Kunte said the budget was all inclusive and important suggestions made by members of the House were considered in it, which was first approved by the standing committee before being presented before the general body. “We have considered worth suggestions made by councillors on issues like roads, leakages in water supply, curbing octroi theft, etc,” said Kunte during his first budget speech.