For the first time since the formation of Ludhiana municipal corporation, no amount has been allocated under the house tax category in the civic body's budget, which would be presented on Saturday.
The MC had proposed a budget of Rs. 90 crore for house tax last year. However, that
basket has been left empty this year, as the civic body is expecting the property tax to be implemented in the city from April.
Meanwhile, the already cash-strapped civic body will have over Rs. 100 crore lesser in its coffers this year, as compared to 2012,
The MC budget, a copy of which is with Hindustan Times, states that the proposed budget for 2013-14 will be Rs. 630.98 crore, as against Rs. 741.25 crore last year, which is a steep decline from the Rs. 801-crore budget proposed in 2011-12.
The decline in budget reflects the declining financial condition of the local body, which has been struggling hard to meet its needs, even by selling its properties.
The budget for General Branch this year has been proposed at Rs. 440.18 crore, whereas Rs. 190.80 crore have been allocated for Operation and Management cell.
The MC expects a maximum of Rs. 315 crore from octroi/ share of VAT, as against Rs. 280 crore last year. This is an increase of Rs. 35 crore from last year. The least amount in the budget has been kept for slaughter house fee, which is Rs. 4 lakh this year. It was Rs. 3.05 lakh last year.
The budget for roads has been proposed at Rs. 21.50 crore, for PWD roads Rs. 3 crore, for bridges/projects Rs. 15.50 crore, for streets and drains Rs. 20.25 crore, for street lights 8.50 crore, for parks Rs. 7 crore, for development of slum colonies Rs. 20.25 crore, for municipal buildings Rs. 4 crore and Rs. 15 crore for municipal waste management.
Also, the MC has also proposed Rs. 100 crore as loans from Housing and Urban Development Cooperation in the proposed budget this year.
Branch Budget for 2011 2012 Budget 2013
General Administration R8.07 crore R7.30 crore Rs. 7.97 crore
Octroi staff R15.25 crore R13.43 crore R16.17 crore
Licence fee R75 lakh 90 lakh R1.20 crore
Health R114 crore R97.91 crore R87.27 crore
Building R58.5 crore R61.4 crore R9.18 crore
Tehbazari R15 crore R12 crore R1.34 crore
Engineering Branch R41 crore R45.63 crore R40.58 crore
Library R1 crore R99 lakh R78 lakh
Light (street) R85.7 crore R92.2 crore R10.08 crore
Horticulture R21.75 crore R18.12 crore R20.43 crore
Fire brigade R2.95 crore R2.35 crore R2.60 crore
Police R3 crore R4.81 crore R3.90 crore
Head of account proposed budget for 2013-14
Octroi/Share of VAT Rs. 315 crore
Octroi on electricity Rs. 38 crore
Advertisement Tax Rs. 4 crore
License fee u/s 343 Rs. 1.30 crore
License fee vehicle Rs. 35 lakh
Slaughter house fee Rs. 4 lakh
Rent of MC property Rs. 80 lakh
Tehbazari Rs. 3 crore
Composition fee Rs. 10 crore
Other miscellaneous income Rs. 27.89 crore
Sale of property Rs. 75 crore
Recovery of loan from employees Rs. 60 lakh
Income of O&M cell Rs. 35 crore
Additional excise duty Rs. 20 crore
HUDCO Loans/loan from banks Rs. 100 crore