RAJAHMAHENDRAVARAM : The Rajahmahendravaram Municipal Corporation (RMC) here on Friday presented `304.25 crore worth budget for the 2017-18 financial year.

However, the Opposition party found fault with the Mayor for manipulating the figures. On the occasion, City Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary appealed to the council members to focus on development activities by keeping politics aside, as power is not permanent.

Mayor Pantham Rajani Sesha Sai claimed that the city was moving with rapid development works on a war footing. Because of Godavari Pushkarams and the Centre’s AMRUT scheme, the RMC was sanctioned sufficient funds. The AMRUT scheme will be mainly focusing on drinking water facility and beautification.

Municipal Commissioner V Vijayarama Raju explained that the budget estimates this year is `30 crore less than that of previous year only since there were separate schemes like Building Regulation Scheme last year.

The civic body collected property tax of `35 crore this year. The RMC is estimating grants worth `119.65 crore for 2017-18 though Urban Health Centre grants, MPLADS, Special Development Fund, maintenance special grants for internal roads and drains works, SC,ST Sub-Plan, AMRUT grants, etc.

However, the Opposition members alleged that the figures shown in the budget estimates were incorrect and demanded the Mayor to explain on what basis and how the budget figures were estimated.

Addressing the Council, Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary stated that property tax collections were satisfactory and felt the need to focus on advertisement and entertainment taxes for improving revenue. He requested the council members cutting across the party lines to focus on development and expressed doubt over him contesting in the next general elections.