MYSURU: City Central Library chief librarian B Manjunath introduced a budget of Rs 3.79 crore for the financial 12 months 2019-20 on Saturday. The finances assembly used to be held at MCC assembly hall and presided by means of Pushpalatha Jagannath, ex-officio chairman of the libraries in Mysuru. 

Presenting the finances, Manjunath said the library is expecting a income of Rs 2.9 crore as library cess from Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), Rs 5 crore as library cess from Mysuru Urban Development Authority and a central authority subsidy of Rs 5 crore. 

The library may be expecting Rs 3.20 lakh from belongings rents, Rs 6.80 lakh from public donations and Rs 76.3 lakh from pastime amount in banks, loans, EMD, club deposits, security deposits, donations and others. 

However, the library is predicted to spend Rs 3.79 crore within the financial 12 months which includes Rs 60 lakh as wage for group of workers, more than a few upkeep charges, rents and other administrative center expenses, Rs 1.80 crore for buying books and journals, Rs 30 lakh for upkeep of buildings, and Rs 15 lakh each for upkeep and loans. 

Rs 17 crore library cess is due 

Speaking on the failure of the civic companies to disburse budget for the maintenance and construction of libraries, Manjunath said that MCC and MUDA, which accumulate library cess from public all over belongings tax, are but to pay Rs 17 crore. 

“MCC has to pay the pending amount of Rs 17 crore and MUDA has to pay Rs 6 lakh to town central library as library tax which they accrued as a part of belongings tax. We request MCC to pay Rs 25 lakh every month to library. Every month, I write a letter to each the civic companies for the payment. Even the issue used to be mentioned in Vidhana Soudha, however MUDA has failed to offer knowledge even to the meeting,” he said. 

Manjunath said that yearly, the city central library spends nearly Rs 35 lakh for newspapers, Rs 35 lakh for group of workers and Rs 75 lakh for upkeep. If the library division doesn’t get the cess amount, then it is going to be tricky for constructing new libraries and absorb automation,” Manjunath told mayor Pusphalatha. 

Private companies for upkeep? 

Manjunath said that as civic companies aren't offering the library cess amount, the dep. held a discussion on whether or not it’s possible at hand over the maintenance of libraries to non-public companies. “The thought is new to the libraries. The division will provide library development, books and other amenities, but the upkeep might be given to non-public companies via mushy. As libraries don't get budget from govt and has to rely on its own income, it has become tricky to run them as crores of rupees are pending with civic companies,” he said.

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Manjunath said the contractor has warned that the development of public library development at People’s Park might be stopped if the pending bill is not cleared by means of March-end. “The library development is being constructed with a price of Rs 4.99 crore. The state govt has sanctioned Rs 4 crore, the dep. has given Rs 25 lakh however Rs 75 lakh which should be given by means of MCC is still pending,” he said.

Mayor Pushpalatha said she is going to visit MCC commissioner Shilpa Nag and the finance officer and make a decision on the payment of dues.