Date:29/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/29/stories/2008022954960300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Budget accepted amid TDP walkout

Staff Reporter

TDP protests
non-inclusion in
committees
Congress councillors charge officials with ignoring their wards

ADILABAD: Amid walkouts staged by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Congress councillors on Thursday, a Rs. 54 lakh surplus Budget proposal was accepted by Chairman Digambar Rao Patil. TDP councillors had staged the walkout protesting their non-inclusion in Indiramma committees and the Congress councillors had walked out of the budget meeting charging neglect of their wards by authorities.

TDP members protested the partisan attitude of the ruling Congress in appointment of members on the Indiramma committees. They said their names were not considered for such appointments because of which a large number of deserving people will not get benefit of the scheme.

Meanwhile, Congress councillors charged officials with ignoring their wards so far as developmental activity was concerned. Many councillors pointed out the failure of officials even in repairing failed water supply schemes in their wards.

After about a three hour debate on various issues that included a case of mutation of Municipal land in the name of a private concern almost all councillors staged the walk out. Subsequent to the step, the Budget proposal was declared as accepted by Mr. Patil.