PCMC corporators seek more funds for devp works

PUNE, March 16: Various recommendations for increasing financial provisions of major developmental works including flyovers, developmenta...

PUNE, March 16: Various recommendations for increasing financial provisions of major developmental works including flyovers, developmental works in merged villages, were made today during the debate on the draft budget at the civic general body meeting of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation PCMC yesterday.

The new proposals imply that financial provisions should be increased by Rs 45 crore. Corporators suggested measures for getting additional revenue by recovery of tax arrears, increasing octroi revenue by plugging loopholes and cutting unwanted expenditure be implemented to meet the financial burden of Rs 45 crore. Some of the major proposals included increasing the provision for developmental works in village areas from Rs 14 crore to Rs 29 crore, making a provision of Rs 7 crore for purchase of PCMT buses, increasing provision for flyovers from Rs two crore to Rs 5 crore, and undeground drainage scheme from Rs 1.17 crore to Rs 6 crore.

Cutting across party lines, corporators opposed the hike in water cess as proposed by the civic administration. While a section of corporators demanded that the hike be implemented in a phased manner, most others blamed the administration for not being able to recover other tax arrears.

Standing committee chairperson Shamim Pathan presented the draft budget to the civic general body meeting presided by Mayor Hanumanth Bhosale. Some of the schemes and the financial provisions came in for sharp criticism, particularly from BJP corporator Amrut Parhad who charged that the budget was biased8217; and had meagre provisions for development works in Bhosari, Dighi and village areas.

He criticised the administration for making a meagre provision of Rs 1.5 lakh for works of the Safari park project this year. Parhad also pointed out that additional octroi revenue could be earned, by plugging loopholes. Pathan while presenting the budget said that the provision of Rs 14 crore for development works in village areas was inadequate and demanded that it should be increased two-fold. Corporators who opposed the water hike and instead urged the administration to concentrate on recovery of property and other taxes included Narayan Bahirwade, Kumar Dev, Eknath Mote, and deputy mayor Rekha Gawde. The budget will again come up for discussion on March 19.