Panaji: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) passed a Rs 121 crore budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, during its meeting held on Thursday.
“This year, our outlay for developmental works should be between Rs 15-20 crore which we will spend throughout the city. We have plans of refurbishing all our existing infrastructure. We want to carry out development of the children’s park and fish market at Caranzalem and spend a significant amount on the St Inez cemetery. So, we want to spend a lot of money on the developmental works,” said CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate, adding that CCP is in a good financial position.
Former mayor Surendra Furtado, however, criticised the budget stating that it is a ‘cut, copy and paste’ budget.
“They have cut, copied and pasted last year’s budget. Their figures are not realistic. It is very easy to say, but are they able to do the collection? House tax of around Rs 80 crore is outstanding,” Furtado said.
Speaking during the meeting, CCP Commissioner Clen Madeira said that the tax collection has increased from Rs 22.33 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 32.8 crore in 2024-25 with the same tax rates.
“Nothing has changed. This also speaks about the efficiency of the collection team. Last year, during the Ashtami fair our collection was Rs 1.1 crore, highest in CCP’s history. We have been diligent, ensuring that there are no leakages. The CCP is saving Rs 1 crore annually on fuel bills by plugging leakages,” he said.
On the phase I and II of the Panaji Municipal Market, he said, “The land did not belong to the CCP. People were occupying the shops without any procedure. So, no money has come from the market to the CCP. In December, we managed to get the land transferred in CCP’s name by completing all the procedures.”
