------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Meet on City Corporation budget adjourned over procedural lapses ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The meeting of the Corporation of the City of Panaji held today for the approval of the budget was adjourned as some corporation members objected to certain procedural lapses including the fact that the budget had not been approved by the standing committee before being put up for the corporation's approval.
There were only four points on the agenda for today's meeting attended by 11 out of 14 corporation members; the confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting (December 8), minutes of the standing committee (for information), approval of the budget and any other matter.
The CCP Mayor, Mr Ashok Naik began the meeting by assuring members he would take up their grievances in the next meeting and they should pass the budget in today's meeting. But CCP members, Ms Patricia Pinto and Ms Ruth Furtado raised objections on a number of points.
Quoting sections of the Corporation Act, Ms Pinto asked why corporation meetings are not held every month as stipulated. She pointed out that the first meeting of the corporation was held on June 16, 2003, the next after four months on October 16, then on November 22 and today's meeting after 3 months. The two lady members also questioned why members were informed of today's budget meeting only on the evening of March 2 instead of 7 days before the meeting.
But their stronger objection was based on Section 87 of the Corporation Act which states that the budget should be prepared and laid before the standing committee by January 10 and that the standing committee shall make modifications and submit it to the corporation for approval not later then February 15.
Explaining the irregular meetings of the corporation, the CCP commissioner, Mr Sanjeet Rodrigues said that when dates for meetings are set, members are out of the city. While admitting to the delay in the presentation of the budget, Mr Rodrigues said as this was the first year of functioning of the corporation, there were certain 'impediments'.
Alluding to the deletion of Taleigao from the corporation, he said it caused a 'bifurcation of revenue' and that huge amounts of money, collected as house tax and construction licence fees, had to be refunded. This still continues and making this provision for refunds caused difficulties in the budget.
Mr Rodrigues insisted the budget was placed before the standing committee and its approval obtained but the minutes of that meeting could only be confirmed by calling another standing committee meeting 7 days later. He said since the standing committee was only a sub-set of the corporation, it decided to waive the 'formality' and place it directly before the corporation.
But the two lady members suggested that other issues could be discussed during this meeting. They objected to mistakes in the minutes of the last meeting which were also not confirmed today. They said the budget was a very important document to be followed for the rest of the year and hence has to be discussed properly.
Insisting that rules be followed, they said the budget should be referred back to the standing committee. Though some other members objected to this as 'wasting time', the mayor adjourned the meeting.
Mr Naik later told reporters that the deletion of Taleigao from its jurisdiction has caused difficulties for the corporation. Citizens and builders of Taleigao had earlier paid house tax, construction-licence and such fees at municipality rates but on reverting to panchayat they are demanding refunds. Mr Naik said the corporation has so far refunded about Rs 25 lakh and the refunding continues. ------------------------------------------------ The Navhind Times 6/3/04 page 1 -------------------------------------------------
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