CONTINUING with the tradition of sops for citizens, Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Radhakrishnan B, on Friday, presented a taxfree civic budget with an outlay of Rs 3,267.63 crore for the financial year 2023-24. The Administrator also presented the revised budget for year 2022-23 wherein he said Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had staged remarkable recovery as its revenue receipts were now estimated to be Rs 2,821.25 crore plus surplus of Rs 97.24 crore beating the expectations.

 

While presenting the budget during last year, the Municipal Commissioner had pegged the revenue receipts at around Rs 2,600 crore. The same, he said, was possible due to tight leash on expenditure and maintenance of financial discipline. Now, total revenue expenditure is pegged at Rs 1,901.16 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 1,226.44 crore. Presenting the budget at NMC headquarters, a confident Radhakrishnan B during the media interaction underlined that outlay of above Rs 3,000 crore for NMC has been highest ever of past five years. A specialty of the budget is, it has incorporated inputs from Nagpurians who responded to NMC appeal and submitted their suggestions. As to reason for not opting for any hike in the taxes, the Municipal Commissioner said, the administration stresses more on compliance rather than taxing the citizens.

 

"Our view is that to maxmise collection people needs to treat payment of taxes as fundamental duty and unnecessary taxation does not work", he said. Civic body opted for the latter, he added and cited earlier only 1 lakh property owners were paying taxes and now the base has expanded to 3 lakh and if the same reaches 5 lakh then substantial amount will accrue to NMC. Also from water cess Rs 194 crore has accrued to NMC against estimated of Rs 121 crore and most remarkable is recovery from Market Department Rs 21 crore while target was just Rs 1 crore. Similarly, from the Town Planning Department as against expectation of Rs 111 crore the revenue accruing is now Rs 200 crore. To querry about revenue generation, he said apart from increasing compliance, NMC is also focusing on monetisation of its land assets. Many of civic markets are nearby Metro stations and under UDCPR, available FSI is 4 for multistorey structures. So the way at Budhwar Bazar, NMC went for Design Build Finance Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model from where revenue of Rs 155 crore is expected. The same way Rs 55 Rs were netted from auction of a plot at Jariprakash Nagar and two more plots on Orange Street are being developed in same way.

 

Commissioner exuded confidence that several new infrastructure projects are going to be executed. The same is going to be possible as NMC administration has succeeded in trimming its past dues. Sharing the details, he mentioned that Rs 200 crore payment was pending with NMC and in the current financial year Rs 140 crore have been disbursed. So the liability for next year remains just Rs 40 core thereby providing cushion for civic body to undertake several new works. "In a way our load has been taken away," quipped Radhakrishnan. Sanitation: Special focus is on the managing the citizens complaints about sanitation and for same Rs 37 crore is kept aside in the budget. For the same additional machines are going to be procured or taken on lease, especially 5 jetting machine. For animal carrying a special vehicle is being hired and high flow suction machine and hydraulic and general cranes are going to be procured by NMC. Utility Shifting: Municipal Commissioner mentioned that during road widening the electricity infrastructure remain on main carriageway.

 

The issue has been under discussion and NMC is now going to spend Rs 10.50 crore for shifting them for protection of road useRs NMC is also going to get in touch with other agencies who have undertaken road expansion works and seek report about likely cost for utility shifting. Beggars’Rehabilitation: For skilling the able bodies men and women who are found begging on streets, NMC is going to take-up programme to enable them to earn their own living. Apart from providing them training in some art, the civic body will also provide them finance. For the same. Rs 1.5 crore is earmarked in the budget. For maintenance of Beggars Home Rs 10 crore is kept aside.

 

 

NMC has proposed to continue with 5 % rebate in property tax for prompt payment. Municipal Commissioner and A d m i n i s t r a t o r Radhakrishnan B said, the rebate is part of efforts to increase compliance instead of introducing new taxes. The rebate is also proposed for properties having rainwater harvesting, solar installation and compost facility at their premises. Such property owners also will be entitled for 5 per cent rebate. He said payment of taxes should be treated as a duty by citizens. As to criticism about non-distribution of demand notes, the Municipal Commissioner said, citizens can pay property tax on-line. Also for equipping Fire and Emergency Department, NMC will purchase 72 ft high hydraulic platform. This, he said, will be first in Central India. Rs 6 crore is earmarked for it. NMC will construct quarters for Fire Brigade personnel, and new stations at Ganjipeth and Panchpaoli at cost of Rs 25 crore. A pet park is also on cards and search is on for suitable piece of land. NMC has received several suggestions for the same in the past and this time also, he mentioned. 

 

 

 

THOUGH the budget is largely reflective of future projects with substantial funding, Municipal Commissioner also introduced new heads including the one for Epidemics now that it becoming quite regular feature. This year, for the same, a sum of Rs 5 crore is earmarked as of now for purchase of test kits and vaccine. The allocation is apart from regular allocation of Rs 81 crore for Health Department (Medical) in the civic budget. NMC is now going to take over running of Sickle Cell Diagnostic and Treatment Centre and Panchpaoli Sutikagruha where free daycare health facilities will be provided. Welfare:Another new concept in the civic budget is housing scheme proposed for sanitation workers, nearly 8000 of whom are on rolls of NMC. A land parcel in Nara is identified for construction of 1200 units for the safai karmacharis and eligibility criteria is income upto Rs 6 lakh for affordable housing project. In case the response is good, then same can be expanded, he said further. Thereafter, a group insurance scheme for employees engaged in Sanitation Department is also proposed. The outlay for the same is Rs 55 lakh and same is necessary considering the health hazards they face while undertaking the work. NMC is also going to procure new machines as Commissioner proposed overhauling Mechanical Department and strengthening it. This will cut down the response-time while responding to complaints about chokage and sewage chambers overflowing. 

 

 

TO FINANCE the land acquisition for road expansion works, NMC has earmarked Rs 200 crores. This includes lingering projects of Old Bhandara Road, Ramji Pahelwan Road, Ajni and Somalwada area. Commissioner felt that the setting aside the fund would ensure faster completion of the projects whose benefits will accrue to citizens. As per fixed formula for footing the bill, State and NMC has 70 and 30 per cent share. State Government has already indicated its readiness to foot the bill for these road projects. Cement Concrete Roads: On road construction front, NMC is now going to take-up Phase-IV,V andVI during next two to three years wherein further 40 kms of tar roads are going to be concretised. Under it 18, 24 and 30 meters road are identified and improve road network and improve riding surface in city. For improvement of internal roads which is now going to be focus in budget Rs 40 crore are kept aside. Similarly, Rs 10 crore are earmarked for potholes repair while Rs 16 crore is for tarring and other measures. 

 

 

NMC is also going to put in place permanent infrastructure for immersion of big idols of Lord Ganesh and during other festivals in city. For big idols temporary arrangements were made at Koradi. During the festival time, temporary measures are put in place. For construction of four big ponds Rs 41.5 crore are kept in budget.

 

 

A CACTUS garden is going to be developed by NMC in Lakadganj in East Nagpur and also an Ayurvedic and climber plants garden is also on cards. Similarly, Urban Park is also going to be developed in Gorewada on 70 acres of land and it would be similar to one that is found in many cities of the world. Similarly, renovation of existing gardens are also planned during the year ahead. Besides to cut down the air pollution substantial funds is allocated for curbing the dust pollution. A sum of Rs 6 crore is assigned for the same in the budget. For increasing green cover a fund of Rs 20.50 crore is earmarked in the budget. Similarly, Rs 6 crore are going to be spent on sprucing up side walks and squares as was done in run up to C-20 meet in city. About 40,000 new saplings are going to be planted in city and a Rose nursery is going to be set-up at Jafar Nagar.