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Bhopal: Mayor tables Rs 2,700 crore budget for 85 wards
Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma on Tuesday presented a budget of Rs2,700 crore for the newly carved 85 wards of the city.
Bhopal mayor Alok Sharma on Tuesday presented a budget of Rs2,700 crore for the newly carved 85 wards of the city.
In his budget Sharma has retained several old schemes and added a handful of hi-tech projects to boost civic amenities in the city.
The mayor, however, did not explain how he would mobilise resources for the implementation of the projects, when the union government has discontinued Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the mainstay of resource mobilisation for urban civic bodies.
Sharma, however, seemed very optimistic with the outlay and labeled it as "a development budget."
"The budget includes schemes and projects which would not only change the face of the city, but also end the problems related to the basic facilities (for) citizens.
"We are assured of funds as there is BJP-led government both in the state and central. We would present our demand to the Union minister through the state government," Sharma told HT.
To generate resources, the mayor has hiked license fee on shops by 25%. Now, every shopkeeper including manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers will have to pay a license fee.
"Besides, the BMC will open five petrol pumps, where local tax could be deposited for increased income.
"Additional funds will be received from legalisation of hoardings of the city as well," he said.
However, BMC members did not seem very happy with the provisions.
Many expressed concern as to how the council would generate the total Rs2,700 crore considering that last year the revenue collected was Rs2,000 crore.
"After seeing this budget I could say only one thing -- imaginary income and real expenditure.
"The mayor has proposed to increase the (number of) sanitation workers so their salaries would also (have to) be arranged from the revenue.
"Mayor presented a hypothetical budget for mere show off," Congress corporator Girish Upadhyay said.
One of the major expenditures that the BMC has bear this fiscal is to develop the newly added 130 sq km area within its jurisdiction, which includes 20 villages.
The BMC has to arrange all the basic facilities in the area before rolling out development plans.
Key Schemes
Development of food courts like Indore’s 'Chhappan Dukan'
'She Lounge' for women
RO water plant at New Market and MP Nagar
E-library at ISBT and Sadar Manzil
Automatic timer and dimer switch in streetlights
Utility duct policy to deal with problem of digging of roads
Lift in BMC's office for disabled people
Issue of birth and death certificate without any charge
