In a bid to please all parties, the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party ruled civic standing committee, on Wednesday, passed the Rs 27,578-crore budget with certain amendments, including an additional provision of Rs 215 crore, to the total budget outlay presented on February 4.
Apart from a number of token provisions for small-scale initiatives, a provision of Rs 88.77 crore has been made for the development of the 227 wards in the city. Consequently, the corporators will now get a development fund of Rs 40 lakh each to carry out development works in their respective wards.
The amount would be in addition to the Rs 60 lakh that each corporator gets as their discretionary fund to carry out maintenance of sewer lines, gardens and minor roads.
Provision of corporator development funds was earlier revoked by the then municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar in 2011, as it resulted in misuse of funds.
Several other provisions have been made to improve the living conditions in slums.
A provision of Rs 1 crore to appoint an architect to carry out a comprehensive survey of slums and chalk out a plan to build welfare centres, sewer lines and water connections for the residents.
“We are of the view that fund allocation should be decentralised at the ward level, but an increase in the discretionary fund of each corporator is not required. Corporators can always propose works to be carried out in their wards and get them sanctioned in the budgetary allocation,” said Milind Mhaske, project director from Praja Foundation, an NGO that works on civic issues.
{{/usCountry}}“We are of the view that fund allocation should be decentralised at the ward level, but an increase in the discretionary fund of each corporator is not required. Corporators can always propose works to be carried out in their wards and get them sanctioned in the budgetary allocation,” said Milind Mhaske, project director from Praja Foundation, an NGO that works on civic issues.
{{/usCountry}}Also, a fund of Rs 24 crore has been added to ensure construction of roads, sewer lines and garbage collection services in private and government layouts.
Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.
Stay updated with all the Breaking News and Latest News from Mumbai. Click here for comprehensive coverage of top Cities including Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, and more across India along with Stay informed on the latest happenings in World News.