NASHIK: The Standing Committee of the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) presented the Rs 1,810.82 crore civic budget for 2012-13 in the general body meeting on Tuesday. Earlier, the committee, while modifying the budget worked out by the municipal commissioner, had rejected proposals to hike house and water taxes.

The former municipal commissioner P Velarasu, in his budget presented to the Standing Committee, had proposed 10 per cent hike in house tax and 4 per cent rise in conservation tax, but the proposals to hike house and conservation taxes were cancelled by the Standing Committee it its budget presented at the GBM. The Rs. 1,810.82 crore budget includes the surplus of Rs. 2.61 crore, with the outlay of Rs. 1,808.21 crore. The former municipal commissioner P Velarasu had presented the NMC budget amounting to Rs 1170.85 crore on March 31. The standing committee revised the by suggesting measures to increase revenue by Rs 639.97 crore, thereby increasing the budget from Rs 1,170.85 crore to Rs 1,810.82 crore.

Presenting the budget at the GBM on Tuesday, the Standing Committee chairman Uddhav Nimse said, "My attempt was to give priority to the civic works in the interest of citizens and no tax hike has been made in the budget with an aim to relief the citizens. Considering comparatively on expenses and income, it is necessary to make minor hike on rents of NMC's own commercial properties, advertising taxes. In present situation, it needs to be economical in case of revenue expenditure. Survey of NMC's all residential and commercial properties, and computerization of tax recovery systems are needed to increase the revenue. The related department must take efforts for 100 per cent recovery of house tax, water tax and other taxes, which will help in carrying out maximum developmental works in the city."

The budget includes the proposal of privatize NMC's two ambitious loss making projects- Yashwantrao Chavan Planetarium and Dadasaheb Pahalke Memorial, with an aim to avoid expenses on the said projects. The provision of Rs. 30 lakh per corporator has been made to carry out various developmental works in their wards. The budget includes the provision of Rs. 100 crore in view of the coming Kumbhamela for acquisition of land for Sadhugram, city Ring Roads, DP Roads and broadening of existing roads.

The provision of Rs 100 crore as NMC's contribution (of 30 per cent) under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) project works for the current fiscal year has been made. The budget includes the provision of Rs. 50 crore for the proposed Godavari Development Plan and Ghat development.

Rs. 1 crore to conduct survey and chalk out plans for Metro Railway project, Rs. 1 cr to install CCTV cameras and other safety measures in the city, Rs. 5 crore for Solid Waste Management Project, Rs. 25 lakh for water audit, Rs. 18.37 crore for the welfare of Blind and handicapped, Hawkers' Zone and Khoka market, Rs. 10 crore for multi-purpose playground, Rs. 36.85 crore for various works for empowerment of women, The municipal corporation hopes to raise Rs. 658 crore from Octroi, Rs. 119.69 crore from property and other taxes, Rs. 67.59 from Services and facilities, Rs. 50 crore from Development Tax, Rs. 46 crore from other taxes, Rs. 68.12 crore from water cess, Rs. 112.73 crore through Simhastha and other grants, Rs. 300 crore through cash credit and bonds, Rs. 17 crore from taxes on constructions, Rs. 100 crore from NMC's 24 properties to be developed by the NMC for commercial purposes on BOT basis, Rs. 195 crore as compensation from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) that is handling the widening of the highway widening and the service rods, Rs. 30 crore tax from India Bulls.

The total budget outlay is at Rs. 1,808.21 crore, which includes Rs. 171.19 crore on the administration for recovery of taxes, Rs. 49.45 crore for public safety, Rs. 215.87 crore for public health and facilities, Rs. 12.46 crore for public education, Rs.64.92 crore for water distribution management, Rs.71.47 crore for sewage treatment management, Rs. 3 crore for effluent treatment management, Rs. 67.90 crore to provide facilities to poor people in the city, Rs. 894.78 crore capital expense, Rs. 76.35 for overdrafts etc..