MCD recommends education cess recommended

NEW DELHI, January 6: On the third day of discussions on the municipal corporation's budget estimates for 1999-2000, members of the Stand...

NEW DELHI, January 6: On the third day of discussions on the municipal corporation8217;s budget estimates for 1999-2000, members of the Standing Committee outdid each other in suggesting new ways of augmenting MCD8217;s income. Never mind that many of the ideas were echoes.

Councillor Ved Prakash Gupta suggested that toll tax be charged at the rate of Rs 100 for heavy vehicles and Rs 50 for light vehicles and revive the scavenging tax, which was abolished years ago. Gupta as well as councillor K.S. Gujral also suggested that an education cess be charged from every child in public schools.

Gupta suggested that to generate more revenue from parking, a pilot project be started wherein the basement, ground floor and first floor can be used for parking, while the second and third floor can be used for commercial purposes. For generating money for the project, he suggested that bonds be floated on the lines of the municipal corporation of Pune.

Supporting the commissioner8217;s proposal to charge misuse funds from factory owners, Gupta said that rent charged for the use of big parks be hiked to Rs 5,000 per day and the money recovered be given to councillors for development work in their constituency. Councillor Indu Bhushan also said that rents for the use of parks and community halls be increased.

Repeating what BJP councillor Mahendra Nagpal had suggested, Congress councillor K.S. Gujral suggested that the licensing fee for hotels and banquet halls be increased.

Gupta added that the master plan be amended and marriages and other functions be allowed in farmhouses. He said that if the MCD charged 30 per cent tax, it would generate a minimum revenue of Rs 45 crore.

Advocating the constitution of Mayor In Council8217;, he said that only if the powers were vested in the hands of the elected members would corruption be rooted out of the corporation.

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Councillors Gupta and Vijender Kumar also expressed their support for the Delhi Finance Commission8217;s report to constitute a property tax board as well as an appellant authority to hear property tax appeals.

Yet another suggestion for filling the corporation8217;s empty coffers came from Indu Bhushan, who suggested that the MCD issue licenses for commercial activities being carried out in residential areas.

Coming up with her own suggestions to increase the income and improve the functioning of the MCD, BJP councillor Bhavana Gaur said that an all-women committee be formed to look into the grievances of women employees. She also suggested that the MCD charge tax for advertising boards and wall signs that are put up on MCD land. Advertising boards, which are put up temporarily for some special ceremony, should also be included in this category, she added.

Gaur also suggested that instead of spending money on health camps and other cleanliness measures, the corporation should ensure that there are sewage lines in all unauthorised regularised colonies.