The Times of India 10.07.2009
We will meet 2010 deadline: Mayor
NEW DELHI: Even as Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) claimed that chief minister Sheila Dikshit had agreed to release funds needed for fast-tracking preparations for the Commonwealth Games 2010, Dikshit maintained that she had asked the civic agency to improve its performance and create more avenues for fund generation before additional funds were released by the government.
Said mayor Kanwar Sain: "To ensure all projects are completed on time, especially those related to the Games, we have asked the CM to release Rs 500 crore.'' The mayor discussed the annual outlay of MCD for the year 2009-10 at a meeting with Dikshit at Delhi Secretariat on Thursday.
"The chief minister has accepted our request. She also said that as a matter of procedure we should send a formal request to the Delhi government with details of various projects which require funding,'' added Sain. Meanwhile, sources in the CM's office said that MCD had asked for Rs 1,000 crore.
"A number of projects are under way and need immediate funding for timely completion. For instance, under the transport sector, we have got Rs 70 crore, but the construction of railway overbridges/underbridges will cost Rs 312 crore. So we have asked for Rs 350 crore under that head. In education, we have been provided with Rs 65 crore, while we usually get Rs 120 crore. We have demanded for Rs 240 crore for construction of classrooms, etc. Under the Sixth Pay Commission, we have arrears pending that need to be paid to our employees,'' said Mayor Sain. MCD has also asked for a lump sum amount for improvement of sanitation in the city.
Accepting that the CM had asked MCD to improve collections of property tax, the mayor said, "Only 9 lakh properties out of 22 lakh pay property tax in Delhi. We were asked to improve our collections and we are working towards that,'' said the mayor.
Said mayor Kanwar Sain: "To ensure all projects are completed on time, especially those related to the Games, we have asked the CM to release Rs 500 crore.'' The mayor discussed the annual outlay of MCD for the year 2009-10 at a meeting with Dikshit at Delhi Secretariat on Thursday.
"The chief minister has accepted our request. She also said that as a matter of procedure we should send a formal request to the Delhi government with details of various projects which require funding,'' added Sain. Meanwhile, sources in the CM's office said that MCD had asked for Rs 1,000 crore.
"A number of projects are under way and need immediate funding for timely completion. For instance, under the transport sector, we have got Rs 70 crore, but the construction of railway overbridges/underbridges will cost Rs 312 crore. So we have asked for Rs 350 crore under that head. In education, we have been provided with Rs 65 crore, while we usually get Rs 120 crore. We have demanded for Rs 240 crore for construction of classrooms, etc. Under the Sixth Pay Commission, we have arrears pending that need to be paid to our employees,'' said Mayor Sain. MCD has also asked for a lump sum amount for improvement of sanitation in the city.
Accepting that the CM had asked MCD to improve collections of property tax, the mayor said, "Only 9 lakh properties out of 22 lakh pay property tax in Delhi. We were asked to improve our collections and we are working towards that,'' said the mayor.