LUCKNOW: In its interim annual budget, Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has proposed an increase in expenditure but has cut allocation for some public utility sectors.
LMC has proposed an increase of 11% in its expenditure from Rs 1,946 crore in the last fiscal to Rs 2,651 in 2022-23, but a close look reveals that money allocated for public utility sectors like education, public and animal health and public safety and security has been slashed.
The allocations, however, for construction projects and water conservation, garbage disposal and cleaning have been increased.
The interim budget passed by LMC’s executive committee will soon be tabled in the House for approval.
Sample this: The public and animal health sector has been allocated Rs 155 crore, which is 20% less than Rs 193 crore sanctioned in the previous financial year. Under this head, LMC runs dispensaries in all eight zones, conducts vaccination and epidemic management and animal care.
Similarly, the education sector got Rs 14 crore, which was 12.5 % less than Rs 16 crore allocated in the previous year. The money allotted in this sector is used in primary and secondary schools and a college run by LMC, development and maintenance of libraries and museums in the city. Besides, sports, educational and cultural activities are organised.
Apart from that, there has been an 11% reduction from Rs 88 crore last year to Rs 77 crore this year in the public safety and security section. The sector comprises works like streetlights and maintenance and establishment of parks, markets, slaughterhouses, Kalyan Mandaps and Kanji houses. Disposal of unclaimed/unidentified bodies, renovation of cremation grounds/graveyards are also done in this.
Additional commissioner Abhay Pandey said, “Money allocations are increased or decreased as per priority, based on the requirements of sectors. The same formula is applied in this budget also. The sectors on priority were given more money than others. However, the House can amend it before final approval.”
