Tamil Nadu State Budget for Madurai - What is good for Madurai from the budget 2012-2013?

The Rs. 250-crore budgetary allocation made by the State Government for Madurai Corporation on Monday is very well appreciated for Madurai. 

 Mr.N. Sethuraman said that the allocation of Rs. 24 crore for cancer treatment centres at Madurai and Coimbatore was laudable. 

 Noting that the Budget had no new tax proposals except on liquor, Chamber senior president S. Rethinavelu said that the one time special allocation of Rs. 250 crore to Madurai Corporation for developing infrastructure would go a long way in ensuring free flow of traffic in the city, the lack of which has severely inhibited industrial growth.

Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA) has terming the budget as industry-oriented and said that the allotment of Rs.50 crore for developing District Industries Centre in all 32 districts would help micro, small and medium enterprises in the State. 

The funds would not only help the pending projects under phase one of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRUM) completed, but also ensure that the local body gets more funds for its infrastructure development under the Phase Two of the mission.

The Rs. 250 crore would take care of the Corporation's 30 per cent contribution to be made for the over Rs. 600 crore worth five projects taken up under the mission.  A total of Rs. 600 crore worth projects had been sanctioned under the mission with 50 per cent contribution by the Centre, 20 per cent contribution by the State and 30 per cent contribution by the local body Madurai Corporation. 

The fund-starved Corporation could not make its contribution for the works that brought the construction work of underground drainage (UGD) project and the lining of Storm Water Drainage (SWD) project to a grinding halt in the last quarter of 2010. But, now it will be taken care.

Some of the highlights:

• Budget allocates Rs.250 Crores Special Package for Madurai.
• Regional Cancer Centre in Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital
• 24-hr annadhanam in palani temple; one more cable car in palani temple
• Synthetic Hockey turf in madurai
• Regional centre for Anna Institute of Management for Madurai
• Ramanathapuram Cooperative Spilling Mills to be revived.

Trade bodies in Madurai says this budget is a launch pad for extension of various current and future schemes.

Madurai Budget Snapshot for the year 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

Madurai's Earnings is Rs.175 crores and 37 lakhs
Madurai's Expenditure Rs.183 crores and 37 lakhs

Opposition parties like ADMK and DMDK stepped out from the Assembly hall, for not accepting the loss or deficit of Rs.8 Crores.

It is said that around Rs.5.82 crores was spent on maintenance of highways (27 kms of Mattuthavani to Thirumangalam highways). But opposition parties claim that there is not much work done and how come this amount is deficit (source: dinamalar).

Moreover, Madurai has got loan it seems, which is being given back slowly with interest. Madurai Commissioner Sebastian said - "A loan of around Rs.29 crores for the interest of 12.5% is got, so it is being given back. Now, around 11 crores is given back, but it is expected that by 2016, it has to be given back".

Mayor of Madurai Mrs.Thenmozhi Gopinathan has said that there is already plans for fulfilling the deficit amount in the coming years. Given the property taxes and Business taxes, we will be able to make it ok.

Madurai Machan - I wish there are more businesses and we come up with more turnover for Madurai! Long live Madurai!!