Stating that inadequate time was given to members of the finance and contract committee before holding discussions on the budget in the meeting, Mukherjee has pointed out copies of the budget estimates were distributed only on Saturday.

“Most proposals are pre-decided. A proposal that was estimated for Rs 3 crore is re-estimated at double the amount this year. Suddenly, someone realises that electric motors and pumps have been running all these years without the latest soft-start switchgear, for which another budgetary requirement is made. A whole lot of items have been given the go-by just because no JE or SDO has thought about it,” the letter stated.

Mukherjee has also pointed out that officials were not able to tell about the budgeting for cultural activities, sports, urban poor or the differently-abled sections of society.

“There is no data of each proposal to go by in respect of the current status, the past and its position in the future scheme of things. We have no idea about when a project was carried out, its performance over the years, its maintenance and housekeeping record,” he added.