Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has taken an initiative to hold open discussions with the city dwellers over preparing its forthcoming 2009-10 annual budget.

As part ol the initiative, RCC and Conscious Citizens Committee (CCC) Jointly organised a view exchange meeting on the premises of Miapara Public Library yesterday.

Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, who attended the meeting as the chief guest, revealed that no new holding tax would be Imposed in the proposed budget. He, however, said the tax would be reassessed on the extended building at the previous rate.

Besides, he said different steps were taken to enhance revenue earning to expand the civic amenities and the need based activities would be started soon.

In this context, he said RCC could not realise outstanding taxes and other charges amounting to about Ik 17 crore from different establishments and individuals despite frequent attempts.

Mayor Jaton said two projects with a cost of Ik 21 crore were already approved in line with the city's development activities and some other projects at a cost ofTk 52 crore are on the cards.

For development of the wards those lack civic amenities, he said a project ofTk 67 crore would be adopted as early as possible.

Referring to bringing transparency and accountability in

the programmes, Liton said no works would be kept hidden and everything would be reflected in the next budget.

Necessary steps would be taken to control mosquito menace in all the 30 wards of the RCC simultaneously.

“We are going to undertake a project for manufacturing biogas and fertiliser from the household wastes," Mayor Liton said adding steps would be taken to establish Wasa for addressing the city s water crisis.

Chaired by CCC Convener Advocate Golam Arif Tipu. the meeting was addressed by panel mayor Shariful Islam Babu. Ward Councilors Abdul Hamid Sarker Tekon and Abdus Sobhan, Editor of the daily Sonali Sangbad LiakatAli and Dr Syed Shafiqul Alam.