Bhopal, Mar 19: Mayor Sunil Sood presented a Rs 90058.16 lakh budget for Bhopal Municipal Corporation for the year 2008-09 at the BMC Council meet held on Wednesday. The proposed revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 90057.52 lakh. Thus it is almost a no-profit, no-loss budget. The proposed increase in BMC's income is Rs 31 crore while from other resources and property tax, the civic body expects to earn Rs eight crore. This would make the total income Rs 39 crore. BMC Chairman Ramdayal Prajapati has announced the decision to call another meeting on March 24 at 11 am as leader of the opposition Ashok Pandey and BJP corporators' group had urged him to give some time to study the budget proposals.

In his budget address, Mayor Sunil Sood said that the civic body has started implementing the schemes it had envisaged for city's development and improvement. Under these schemes, female residents of Shyam Nagar have been made owners of their shanties by giving permanent Pattas to them so that they could build Pucca houses. Besides, with a view to making Bhopal slum-free, 1440 houses would be constructed in Shyam Nagar at a cost of Rs 47.14 crore, 212 houses with a cost of Rs 2.54 crore in Kalpana Nagar, 512 houses with a cost of Rs 9.36 crore in Sabri Nagar. Besides, 3600 houses in Ban Ganga, 1872 houses in Baba Nagar would also be constructed which would cost Rs 4714.74 lakh. Pucca houses would also be constructed in Madrasi Colony, Ganga Nagar, Indira Nagar Phase-1 and Phase-II, Vajpayee Nagar, Arjun Nagar, Bhim Nagar and Rahul Nagar slum areas.

The Mayor said that with a view to rid the city of slums, houses would replace shanties in Bijasen Nagar, Sanjay Nagar, Rajiv Nagar, Mira Nagar, Durga Nagar, Saraswati Nagar, Gulab Nagar and Ishwar Nagar also.

He said that in the proposed budget Rs 500 lakh is expected to be received from the state government for construction/repair of roads, Rs 50 lakh from MP's fund, Rs 50 lakh from MLA's fund, Rs 10 lakh under announcements made by the Chief Minister and other ministers, Rs 150 lakh for implementation of Valmiki Ambedkar Yojana, Rs 432 lakh for Midday Meal, Rs 5600 lakh for implementation of BRTS.

Sood said that with a view to developing Bhopal as tourist destination, rope way, musical fountain and food zone would be constructed at Prempura on the banks of Upper Lake. Iqbal Maidan, Motia Talab and Link Road No. 2 are would also be developed as tourist spots.

Budget highlights

* Water supply system would be renovated under JNNURM with a cost of Rs 550 crore

* Rs 245 crore project for drainage of filthy effluents from city.

* Improvement of main roads and construction of fly-overs with a cost of Rs 393 crore under JNNURM.

* Rs 140 crore loans to be availed for various projects.

* Provision of Rs 25 lakh for grants and awards to social, cultural, sports, educational organisations and persons associated with them.

* Two modern libraries proposed.

* New fire sub-station proposed in new Bhopal

* Rs 10 crore development works in 10 slums under DFID

* Construction of modern slaughterhouse.

* New school buildings

* Multi-level parking arrangements in many areas

* Separate provision for well-equipped library to replenish loss of closure of British Library.

* Scheme to collect garbage from houses