Kalaburagi City Library Authority approves ₹97.3 lakh budget

The Kalaburagi City Library Authority has approved its budget for 2026-27, projecting an income of ₹97.3 lakh and expenditure of ₹95.3 lakh.

The budget was discussed and approved at a meeting of the authority held at the Kalaburagi City Corporation hall on Tuesday. Mayor Sheikh Ajmal Ahmed Afzal Gola, who presided over the meeting, directed officials to ensure that the expenditure proposed in the budget was incurred in accordance with the rules.

The authority approved the construction of new library buildings on CA sites in Biddapur Colony and Badepur Colony. It also approved repairs to the roof of the library at Ashok Nagar School.

It was decided to take up the approved works through the Public Works Department or other agencies recognised by the government after the approval of the 2026-27 budget.

City Corporation Commissioner Avinash Shinde directed Deputy Director of City Central Library P.R. Tippeswamy to conduct a detailed inspection of the vacant site in Veerendra Patil Layout and submit a report. He also asked him to discuss the matter with the Mayor and take steps regarding the utilisation of the authority’s funds for the site.

The meeting also decided to renovate the dilapidated Balabhavan library building and develop it into a well-equipped facility. The Mayor and members of the authority inspected the building on Tuesday and approved its renovation either through the City Corporation or the City Library Authority.

As part of National Library Week, a new-member registration drive will be organised in different wards of the city from November 14 to 20. The Deputy Director was directed to begin the campaign in the wards represented by the Mayor and authority members and take steps to enrol a large number of new members.

The meeting also reviewed the collection of outstanding library cess payable to the City Library Authority by the City Corporation. As of March 31, 2026, ₹1,91,42,273 was outstanding, of which ₹71,50,864 had been collected. The Deputy Director was directed to take steps to recover the remaining ₹1,19,91,409 at the earliest, along with the outstanding amount for the current financial year.

Earlier, the Mayor and authority members visited the Central Library and Balabhavan, the Central Bus Stand library and the Godutai Nagar branch library and interacted with readers. The Deputy Director was instructed to purchase books for competitive examinations based on the requirements of readers.