Nagpur: The Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar on Saturday (March 18) presented the Revised Budget for 2016-17 and the Proposed Budget for 2017-18.
“As the city is marching towards becoming a Smart City, some short term and urgent steps have to be initiated in this direction. At the same time, some visionary and long term measures will have to be implemented for future aspects. The sewage treatment arrangements will have to be changed. For this, Nag Nadi Project warrants implementation on priority. Similarly, solid waste separation at the creation point has to be achieved. Participation of citizens will have to solicited. Affordable houses are to be constructed for urban poor. For this distribution of pattas and Prime Minister Awas Yojana will be implemented effectively. For a Smart City, amusement sources for families, gardens, playgrounds area must. If all these factors are planned in effective manner for consecutive years, Nagpur City would be a Smart City in true sense of the word,” the Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar said in his Budget speech.
The Revised Budget:
In the Revised Budget for 2016-17, the expected revenue has been pegged at Rs 1636.63 crore and the expected expenditure at Rs 1636.54 crore. Till February 2017, the NMC recorded a revenue of Rs 1110 crore and the remaining Rs 526 crore are to be recovered till March 31, 2017. The local body is likely to receive Rs 85 crore towards pending two-month LBT dues of Rs 85 crore from State Government, pending dues of Rs 20 crore sanctioned by Chief Minister for Suresh Bhat Memorial Hall, Rs 55 crore for urban Dalit slums, Rs 75 crore as share of NIT for cement roads, Rs 162 crore for 24X 7 water supply scheme, Rs 25 crore spent on Education Department, Rs 20 crore for Malaria-Filaria Department, Rs 14 crore from Stamp Duty, Rs 100 crore from Property Tax, Rs 25 crore from water tax and development charges and special funds as grants.
The proposed income:
Similarly, for the year 2017-18, the revenue of Rs 1707.90 crore (Including the closing balance of Rs 9 lakh) has been proposed in the Proposed Budget. The proposals include revenue of Local Tax Body (LBT) Rs 75 crore, Grants in lieu of LBT from State Government Rs 600 crore, other capital grants Rs 341.38 crore, Property Tax revenue at Rs 340.34 crore, Water Tax Rs 160 crore, market recovery Rs 8.95 crore, revenue from Town Planning Department Rs 69.65 crore, other miscellaneous income (including grants, loans, investments, advances etc) Rs 112.58 crore. The total revenue proposals for the year 2017-18 Proposed Budget has been pegged at Rs 1707.90 crore.
The proposed expenditure:
For the year 2017.18 Proposed Budget, the expected expenditure is likely to be at Rs 1707.64 crore including Rs 339.33 crore towards salaries of employees, administrative expenditure at Rs 49.82 crore, pensionary benefits at Rs 132 crore, maintenance and repairing at Rs 242.47 crore, Rs 128.52 crore towards financial assistance share for NMC schemes, capital expenditure at Rs 271.70 crore and other miscellaneous expenditure at Rs 161.75 crore. The closing balance (31-03-2018) will be Rs 25.95 lakh.
The Municipal Commissioner has effected a cut of Rs 412 crore in the budget presented by the previous Chairman of Standing Committee. The amount includes capital expenditure, development works, expenses on sewerage and other heads.
New sources of income in the Proposed Budget:
The civic body is expected to earn Rs 8 crore from parking. Similarly it is expected to earn, for the first time from transport (bus fare tickets). In a first in the NMC, Transport Manager will present Transport Budget.
Last Budget’s announcements fulfilled:
The Municipal Commissioner in his last revised and proposed budgets had announced streamlining of public transport system. It has been fulfilled. Construction of Suresh Bhat Memorial Hall is nearing completion. Swami Vivekanand Memorial has been completed and dedicated to people. Construction of cement roads is in full swing and 80-90 percent of roads will be completed in summer itself. The income of local body is likely to get boost from hiked Property Tax rate, BOT projects, and Orange City Street Project. A Rs 1036 crore demand letter has been sent to concerned department of State Government in lieu of loss due to GST implementation.
In his Budget speech, the Municipal Commissioner said, “Nagpur City is moving towards becoming a Smart City. The Mother Nature has bestowed the city with natural sources in abundance such as water, sunlight, greenery, a central position of the country, fertile land, efficient manpower etc. In addition, The Chief Minister and Union Minister have extended political support to the NMC’s endeavours with their ambitious and visionary decisions. If the decisions are appropriately implemented, then this city can top the list of 10 magnificent cities,” he said.
He further said that if all the ambitious projects are to be implemented then the financial condition of NMC has to be strengthened first. “Some tough decisions will have to be taken along with financial discipline, transparency in expenditures etc. Efficiency will have to be brought for implementation. My focus will be on these three aspects. Considering the increase in expenses on establishment, stress will be on 100 percent recovery of revenue sources. The focus will be on recovery of all pending taxes from defaulters. Efforts will be made to issue bills by reformed system after fresh survey of Property Tax, Water Tax etc,” the top NMC boss said.
“The NMC is likely to face a deficit in big proportions while providing good service in transport venture. If maximum citizens use the public bus system the deficit could be brought down. For this efforts will be made to make the bus service efficient, reliable and affordable. At the same time, cross subsidy from private transportation is must for affordable and comprehensive public beneficiary transport system,” the Municipal Commissioner said.
“Parking is emerging as monstrous problem in the city. The city has around 13 lakh registered vehicles and making parking arrangements for such massive number of vehicles is a big problem. The General Body Meeting this year has approved a parking policy. The policy is likely to be implewmented in the year 2017-18. The NMC is expected to earn a revenue of Rs 8 crore through parking. I plan to to use this money for reducing the transport deficit,” he stated.
