ZP’s Rs 50 crore budget

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The Zilla Parishad has presented its primary budget for the financial year 2025-26, amounting to Rs 50.21 crore. The budget was presented by chief executive officer Vikas Meena on Thursday.

Under administrative rule since March 2022, the ZP's budget is presented by officials, marking the third under Vikas Meena. Chief accounts and finance officer Chandrakant Patil opened the session. This year's budget focuses on rural tourism, with key allocations of Rs 25 lakh for solar village projects, Rs 50 lakh for sanitation, and Rs 50 lakh for tourism development.A notable decision in this budget is the allocation of Rs 1 crore for constructing crematoriums for the underprivileged in rural areas. The longstanding issue of crematoriums for marginalized communities, previously unaddressed under the Dalit Vasti Improvement Scheme, will now be handled by the ZP's Social Welfare Department in villages lacking such facilities. Additionally, the administration is prioritizing digital advancements, with plans for ISO certification through enhanced IT integration, as stated by CEO Meena. The budget session was attended by key officials, including DRDA project director and acting additional CEO Ashok Sirse, deputy CEO (General Administration) Raghavendra Ghorpade, NABARD assistant manager Suresh Patwekar, Bank of Maharashtra zonal manager Vivek Nachne, deputy CEOs Rajendra Desale and Suvarna Jadhav, additional chief accounts officer Ravindra Borde, executive engineer Ajit Waghmare, district health officer Dr. Abhay Dhanorkar, planning education officer Aruna Bhumkar, executive irrigation engineer Vijay Kamble, and other officials. The event was moderated by Sanjay Mahalambkar.

The budget prioritizes infrastructure, social welfare, and essential services. Key allocations include Rs 6.38 crore for Construction, Rs 3.49 crore for Education, Rs 6.60 crore for Water Supply, and Rs 11.28 crore for Social Welfare. Healthcare receives Rs 94.03 lakh, while Disability Welfare and Women & Child Welfare get Rs 4.47 crore and Rs 2.88 crore, respectively. Agriculture is allotted Rs 48.56 lakh, Animal Husbandry Rs 1.16 crore, and Agricultural Biogas Rs 30 lakh. Panchayat Raj Programs receive Rs 6.93 crore, Irrigation Rs 1.75 crore, and Road Transport Rs 3.51 crore. The total allocations for Panchayat Raj and Irrigation stand at Rs 13.20 crore and Rs 2.35 crore, ensuring balanced rural development.

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Chief Executive officer Vikas Meena presented the budget, alongside the district rural development agency’s project director and acting additional CEO Ashok Sirse and chief accounts and finance officer Chandrakant Patil.