* Proposes Rs
1,294.75 cr budget for 2015-16, which is a ‘scaled down’ one compared to
Rs 1,341.55 cr revised budget for the year 2014-15
* The revised
budget for 2014-15 also scales down the budget of Rs 1,645.02 cr
proposed by Standing Committee chairman this financial year
* Property tax set to be ‘rationalised’
* LBT to continue
* Municipal Commissioner visualises scheme to provide Chemotherapy facility to poor and needy cancer patients
Staff Reporter
Emphasising
on need to focus on ‘rationalisation’ of tax structure and making
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) ‘sustainable’, Municipal Commissioner
Shravan Hardikar presented to the Standing Committee his budget for the
financial year 2015-16. While scaling down NMC budget estimates for
2014-15 from Rs 1,645.02 crore to Rs 1,341.55 crore, Hardikar proposed a
‘realistic’ budget of Rs 1,294.75 crore for 2015-16.
“My focus is
pretty clear. I wish to concentrate on good governance backed by
e-governance, facilitating citizen services like making tax payment
easier, and rationalising tax structures while delivering quality
services,” Hardikar told the reporters while addressing a press
conference on Friday evening after presenting a copy of the budget to
Narendra Borkar, Chairman of NMC Standing Committee. At the same time,
he said, Local Body Tax (LBT) will continue in 2015-16 also as NMC has
not received any communication otherwise.
In 2015-16, Hardikar has
proposed a budget with revenue of Rs 1,294.67 crore. This includes Rs
500 crore revenue from LBT, Rs 250 crore from property tax, Rs 125 crore
from water user charges on metered connections, Rs 6.05 crore from
Market Department, Rs 71.75 crore from Town Planning Department, and Rs
341.87 crore from ‘other income, loans, investment, advances etc’.
Municipal
Commissioner has estimated expenditure in 2015-16 to be Rs 1,294.65
crore. This includes Rs 307.64 crore on establishment, Rs 24.96 crore on
administration, Rs 95 crore on pension of retired employees, Rs 208.78
crore on operations/maintenance/repairs, Rs 602.82 crore as capital expenditure, Rs 55.45 crore on ‘other heads’.
Asked
about the scaling down of the budget estimates for 2014-15 by Rs 303.47
crore -- from Rs 1,645.02 crore to Rs 1,341.55 crore -- Hardikar said
that he had kept it at a ‘realistic’ level. Interestingly, in his
speech, the Municipal Commissioner stated categorically that he did not
notice any substantial increase in ‘revenue resources, recovery, new
taxes, inherent competence’.
To a question on his budget estimates
for 2015-16 being lesser -- at Rs 1,294.67 crore -- than the ‘revised
estimates’ for 2014-15 at Rs 1,341.55 crore, Hardikar said that he
expected more revenue and recovery in 2015-16. “Still, if comparisons
are to be drawn, the revised estimates for 2014-15 include Rs 200 crore
of loan component. If that is to be deducted, the revised estimates
stand at Rs 1,141.55 crore. Compared to this figure, my estimate for
2015-16 is higher,” he explained.
Replying to another question,
Municipal Commissioner said that NMC had clocked a revenue of Rs 825
crore till January 2015 including Rs 295 crore from LBT. Compared to
even the revised estimates for 2014-15, the total revenue collection
till January 2015 is Rs 516.55 crore lesser. Also, compared to estimated
recovery of LBT at Rs 425 crore, the actual collection till January is
295 crore, which is Rs 130 crore less. Against this backdrop, will NMC
be able to meet the ‘revised’ revenue targets in remaining two months of
February and March of financial year 2014-15, remains a question.
Hardikar
also emphasised on improving administrative functioning, enhancing
dedication to work among officials and employees, preparing and
implementing effectively ‘a plan for planned development’ of the city.
To meet these goals, there is a need to strengthen the functioning of
Town Planning Department. “We are inviting top planners of the country.
If planning is better, development can be done properly, keeping in mind
the benefits that the citizens will get in next 30 years,” he said.
As
far as public utility lands are concerned, Municipal Commissioner said,
several steps are to be taken including corrections in Development
Control Rules (DCR), using space creatively, planning proper utilisation
of available space, rational view-point on public utility. “But, in any
case, illegal and not sanctionable things cannot be condoned,” he added
when asked about violations that had taken place in the past. He also
underlined the need for acquiring reserved lands.
Sanjay Kakde,
Deputy Municipal Commissioner; Pramod Bhusari, Additional Deputy
Municipal Commissioner; Prakash Urade, Superintending Engineer; Madan
Gadge, Chief Accounts and Finance Officer, S S Hastak, Tax Assessor, and
other officers also were present at the press conference.
Three new taxes proposed
As
per the provisions of Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, the civic
administration has proposed to introduce three new taxes in 2015-16.
These include 3 per cent each as Water Benefit Tax and Sewerage Tax, and
5 per cent Street Tax. This will be part of property tax
‘rationalisation’. Already, a proposal for revised taxation has been
submitted for policy decision and approval of general body. The water
user charges also may be reduced from 40 per cent to 25 per cent, if
number of metered connections increase. “For the purpose of putting
development of the city on fast track, I appeal to the citizens to pay
taxes properly and co-operate us,” said Hardikar.
Two new initiatives proposed
In
his budget, Municipal Commissioner has proposed two new initiatives
including a Chemotherapy centre for poor and needy cancer patients, and
creating a network of concrete roads. “On the lines of dialysis centre, I
have proposed to start a Chemotherapy centre for poor. For the purpose,
we are exploring the possibility of making available a ward at Indira
Gandhi Rugnalaya of NMC,” said Hardikar. Another plan is to create a
network of concrete roads in the city.
(Filed on February 20, 2015)
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