KDMC approves a surplus budget

Presenting the budget to the general body, Vilas Mhatre, the standing committee chairperson, told the House that the KDMC was expecting an octroi collection of Rs 89 crore, Rs 44 crore from property tax and Rs 4.27 crore from development cess. Over Rs 75.30 crore is expected tothe yield from service tax, market fee, licence fee and various grants.

quot;The corporation will also launch a voluntary disclosure scheme over property tax to boost its income and allow defaulters to come forward and make payments,quot; Mhatre stated.

On the expenditure side, while establishment and staff income costs will come to Rs 40 crore, a major allocation of Rs 34.96 crore has been made for the megacity projects and Rs 11 crore for the underground drainage system. The water supply will get Rs 8.75 crore, the infrastructure at Mohone and Netivili will be given an additional Rs 2.62 crore. WhileRs 19.94 crore has been set aside for constructing school and hospital buildings, the new KDMC building will get Rs 5.46 crore.

Criticising the allocations to select projects, the BJP had called the budget bloated8217;. While Harishcahndra Patil BJP said the budget took care of only the heavyweight corporators,8217; Anil Bhade demanded to know why Rs 5 lakh has been allocated for constructing urinals in Mhatre8217;sward.