Mpl Commissioner presents NMC budget of Rs 2523.82 cr
17 Mar 2020 10:51:07
Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe presenting a copy of the proposed budget of NMC for year 2020-21 to Vijay Zalke, Chairperson, Standing Committee as Additional Commissioner Ram Joshi and other members of committee look on.
Staff Reporter :
Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe scaled down the budgetary estimates of cash strapped Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to Rs 2523.82 crores for next year stating they are attuned with expected receipts. Similarly, in the revised budget for current year - 2019-20 was also capped down at Rs 2624.05 crore as against Rs 3100 crore proposed by Standing Committee. Even the revised figures carry reflection of Rs 500 crore, the carry forward of the last year surplus, mentioned the budget at start of the year. In short, earnings from all sources for the current financial year would not go beyond Rs 2,255 crore at the most, Mundhe specified during media interaction at NMC’s Central Office at Civil Lines on Monday. Hence, while budgeting for next year one has to bear in mind the current liabilities and also ensure development process is not affected.
Earlier in the afternoon, Municipal Commissioner as per tradition presented the revised budget for current year and financial estimates for next year to Standing Committee. Now, Standing Committee would debate the same at its meeting and present their own estimates before general body meeting for seeking approval of the House. Mundhe said that through civic budget he was laying road map for futuristic city where focus was on rolling out basic amenities to fulfill given mandate of NMC. Going one step further, the budget for next year carries everything in black and white as heads under which finances are to be distributed are clearly specified.
Beyond that Mundhe has identified projects and also earmarked budgetary allocation to same leaving little scope for any manipulation. e-Governance & IT: To a querry, Mundhe said, “Key point of budget is equitable and balanced development of entire city and for the same thrust will be on e-governance for which Rs 25 crore is provided in the financial estimates. Among the projects that will soon rollout for citizens include an all-in-one App that will cover everything related to civic affairs, be it alerting citizens about arrival of garbage pick-up, complaints redressal mechanism, finding parking space etc.” Throughout the interaction Mundhe harped on one point, “I have given much needed vision to civic budget that was lacking so far and ensured transparency in allocation of funds.”
He would often cite his previous experiments in other civic bodies that Mundhe said paid rich dividends. Keeping in mind that currently fourth industrial revolution is under process, NMC budget carries substantial allocation to ensure that city is developed so that it is livable both in terms of fulfilling aspirations of citizens but remain economically viable also. Capital Expenditure: A capital expenditure of Rs 1,100 crore is therefore proposed for carrying out new projects as well as completing the ongoing works be that of roads, public toilets and several other new concepts that have come-up in public discussion so far, Commissioner specified.
Corpus for Land Acquisition: Further explaining the concept, Mundhe said, “Since new Development Plan for city is in offing, the budget will be implemented in two steps, to meet needs for first 10-years period from 2020 to 2030 and for second phase 2030-2040. From that point of view, a new head is proposed in civic budget to meet liabilities of land acquisition that was lacking so far.” A separate head under Section 124 of MRTP Act is proposed where funds generate from Transit Oriented Development (ToD) would be pooled in and Rs 300 crore is estimated from the same.
The corpus would be used to acquire land for fulfilling reservations in DP. Drinking Water: Stating that basic amenities need to be upgraded he said that till today leakages amounts to steep 45 per cent and this includes theft also and this is needed to be plugged. For this, Rs 127 crore is required for completing pipeline network in 27 command areas. Further, Rs 39.92 crore is required for installation of machinery for lifting water from Kanhan, upto 60 MLD during July to December period. Another Rs 146 crore are needed for other works in relation to upgrading water supply network and another Rs 75 crore to bring entire city under 24x7 network. Although entire money cannot be allocated in one year, most urgent works that is completing target in command areas would be taken up next year.
There are 68 command areas of which 20 receive 24x7 supply, 21 more would be added to the list by March end and then 27 areas will remain. The allocation for water supply is kept at Rs 227 crore. Sewage: As to sewage while under Nag River Pollution Abatement scheme North and Central area would be covered, for South Nagpur Rs 89 crore is proposed for next year. A survey is on to prepare draft for upgradation of sewage network. Here, Mundhe highlighted a fact that during administrative reforms the departments of drinking water supply and sewage treatment is merged under Public Health Engineering. The idea is to ensure that every drop of water gets recycled. For example, city receives 640 MLD of water of which only 525 MLD goes to sewage treatment plant (STP), and to streamline the same in all Rs 179 crore is budgeted for the next year.
Solid Waste Management: For speeding-up bio-mining at Bhandewadi and development of scientific land filling site Commissioner has allocated Rs 179 core. He said, “CNG project proposed earlier by city fathers is not feasible and has failed everywhere while batted for fertiliser plant.” Gardens: For the first time in history of NMC, a sum of Rs 40 crore is allocated for development and maintenance of gardens in the city. Mundhe said, “46 gardens with Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) along with their other properties like Samaj Bhawan, would be taken over by NMC within next fortnight.”
Health: On health front, Municipal Commissioner has proposed Health-cum-Wellness centres at 59 primary health centres of NMC. He said, “NMC would be the first civic body to have such combined facility that would be in tune with concept of 21st century. For it, Rs 30.82 crore is earmarked in the budget. Sports: Similarly, for development of playground and other sports facilities, a lion sum of Rs 44.90 crore is given in the budget which is 4 per cent of total budgeted amount. Education: Battling for having civic run CBSE schools, Mundhe said this is the need for the hour as existing local language cannot be guide to success in future. The Commissioner said that he would again try to convince ruling party the need to go for English medium schools with CBSE curriculum. For development of education facilities Rs 108 crore is proposed. Mundhe said, “As per norms of State Government every civic bud-get needs to allocate for 19 heads and for some of them like women and child development, slum and Dalit development, for sports and for Divyangs uniform allocation of Rs 56.15 cr is proposed.
Telescopic rates to be introduced for drinking water supply “Telescopic rates would be introduced from next year in city for drinking water supply,” stated Municipal Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe during the press meet. The concept is ‘the more you consume, the more you pay’ as civic body tries to create awareness among citizens on judicious use of water. Currently, Nagpurians pay through flat rate but after switching over to telescopic rate, there would be Kahi Khushi, Kahi Gum, given the fact that during summer there is spike in usage of water. The Commissioner’s budget expects income of Rs 260 crore from drinking water supply which is considered quite a steep hike. For current year about Rs 150 crores realisation is expected from water bills. He reiterated that there would no compromise on Property Tax front even as in estimates the revenue is capped at realistic Rs 289 crore giving relief to harried civic officials who are currently busy chasing target of Rs 400 crores. From State Government a sum of Rs 161 crore is expected reflecting only a marginal increase from current year. There is no mention of past commitments made by State Government for NMC as yet in the estimated presented by Municipal Commissioner. NMC would also raise Rs 164 crore from market to carry out development work while during the current year the loan component is around Rs 900 crore. Penalty for Unauthorised Buildings: Municipal Commissioner also sounded warning to occupants of unauthorised warning saying NMC would impose penalty on unauthorised buildings or those not having occupancy certificate.
Mpl Commr limits ward fund to Rs 10 lakh For the city fathers the proposed budget of Municipal Commissioner is going to hit like torpedo as he has capped maximum expenses for ward fund at Rs 10 lakh. Only emergency and need to do works would be carried out and that too after receiving nod from Zonal Committee. Mundhe questioned the need for separate ward fund as all the works are already in the budget. So far, there was practice of duplication of heads under which development works were carried out resulting in such a huge liability of around Rs 800 crore for NMC. Now, the practice would come to an end to restore financial discipline.
Administrative expenses still high As per the break-up of figures the administrative expenses of NMC is still quite high, as much as 48 per cent. However, Municipal Commissioner in reply to a querry clarified that the figure is of entire receipts. The State Government norms of capping expenditure at 35 per cent is for its own income and he said same would be met.