New Delhi: Ahead of the assembly polls, the BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation decided not to levy any new taxes in its budget today and focus its work around education and sanitation.
Leader of the House in SDMC Radhey Shyam Sharma, in a special meeting of the House, finalised its budget that has allocated Rs 15 crore for sanitation activities of the municipal body under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The budget also said that the SDMC's citizen-centric call-centre would come up by March.
The Standing Committee of the corporation had recommended a centralised pay and accounts office in headquarters to be started in the four zones by the next financial year. It also proposed a unique ID for property tax through private agency.
The Budget said that the new Unique Property Identification Code (UPIC) number would also be provided by the agency by this year.
"Under the Swach Bharat Mission, a provision of Rs 15 crore has been made. Also, 5,000 dustbins would be put up in SDMC markets. Besides, CSR activities would be promoted for sanitation purposes," Sharma said.
In its budget speech in November, the commissioner had proposed a hike of 45 per cent in the Base Unit Area Value for property tax assessment, Rs 10 crore for sanitation under the 'Clean India' campaign, and running parking sites in partnership with DIMTS.
While rejecting any hike in existing tax or levying of new ones, the SDMC today also said that it would become a "debt-free organisation in next two years".
Besides, provision for new computers and CCTV cameras in all schools has been made. Also, scheme of reuse of old text books after a child graduates to higher class has also been included.
For construction of women's toilet a sum of Rs 50 lakh has been allocated.
And, 1.68 lakh streetlights in south Delhi areas would be converted from conventional system to LED one, for which an agreement has been signed, the SDMC said in a statement.
Meher Chand Market redevelopment plan will also be implemented and Rs 36 lakh has been provisioned for development of facilities for traditional games such as kabbadi, kho-kho, among others.
Medical facility to all councillors and ex-councillors and insurance of Rs 5 lakh per annum to all councillors have also been provisioned in the budget.
According to the budget, property numbers would be allocated?to all properties in unauthorised regularised colonies and urban villages.
For financial year 2015-16 the budget for unauthorised colonies has been increased from Rs 30 crore to Rs 40 crore and for authorised colonies from Rs 50 crore to Rs Rs 60 crore. Budget of regularised colonies has been increased from Rs 20 crore to Rs 25 crore. Budget for both rural and urban village areas have been hiked from Rs 25 crore to Rs 30 crore each.
