Window to pass MCD budget by House shrinking fast

MCD commissioner Gyanesh Bharti had presented the budget, including the new tax proposals, on December 8 last year. The budget has to be cleared on or before February 15

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) budget may have to passed by the Centre-appointed Special Officer if the current stalemate over convening the first House meeting of the civic body continues, senior municipal officials said.

The MCD House was adjourned indefinitely on January 6, after the first meeting of the newly elected members plunged into pandemonium. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

MCD commissioner Gyanesh Bharti had presented the budget, including the new tax proposals, on December 8 last year. The budget has to be cleared on or before February 15, according to the provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, the officials added.

The MCD House was adjourned indefinitely on January 6, after the first meeting of the newly elected members plunged into pandemonium with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members fighting pitched battles over the presiding officers decision to swear in the nominated members called the aldermen before the elected councillors.

The officials added that the entire process followed before the lieutenant governor fixed a date for the House meeting will have to be repeated now, “which may take some time”.If the House does not convene before the deadline for the budget, the Special Officer -- a transitionary post created by the Centre to run the MCD affairs till the first House convenes --- will clear the budget. This, the officials, said will lead to an unprecedented situation in which the elected House will have no say on imposition of taxes and other budget proposals.

Senior MCD officials said that they have moved a file proposing January 30 as possible date for holding the House meeting on Tuesday. However, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who is incharge of the urban development department, on Wednesday said that he was not aware of this proposal.

“The window for House discussing and passing the budet is getting narrower. Under the current circumstances, discussion on the budget seems unlikely,” the official added.

Former North MCD mayor Jai Prakash said that the budget is usually finalised by first week of February. “Tensions are high right now, and the atmosphere does not seem suitable for holding peaceful discussions. Even if the House meeting is held, the budget may be passed amid chaos,” he added.

Retired municipal chief law officer Anil Gupta said that the timelines for budget are outlined in the DMC Act. “Section 109 deals with adoption of budget estimates. It states that on or before the 15th day of February of each year the corporation shall determine the rates at which various municipal taxes shall be levied in the following year. Before the House, the budget proposals need to be cleared by the standing committee. But for that, ward committees will have be constituted so that they could elect standing committee members. There is no time for left of this. The budget may need to be directly brought to House, and the window is closing fast,” Gupta added.