The Times of India             13.02.2014

East Delhi Municipal Corporation increases councillor’s fund to Rs 2 cr

NEW DELHI: East Delhi Municipal Corporation has increased the councillor's fund to Rs2 crore from close to Rs55 lakh for the purpose of development. The move comes two months ahead of the 2014 general election slated for April and the BJP leadership in the corporations is going all out to finish projects before the model code of conduct kicks in. The BJP brass defended the move saying the money will be spent on improvement of roads, sanitation, streetlights and for carrying out other maintenance works.

East Delhi Municipal Corporation leader of the House B B Tyagi said the new entities would abide by the budget. "Due to trifurcation, the corporations did not have enough funds. But corporations have done much work after struggling for more than one-and-a-half years. Even though Delhi government still hasn't released funds they have achieved their targets. Ward-wise allocation of money will remain intact," Tyagi said.

Amnesty Scheme would be launched for property owners who constructed their houses prior to 2007 on plots of area up to 100 square metres. Their buildings could be regularized on deposition of compoundable fee. Home delivery of birth and death certificates through speed post will be initiated at a cost of Rs 60 lakh. A special window in both zones of East Corporation to add name on the birth certificate within half-an-hour will be established.

The amount provided for wedding of widow's daughters will be increased from Rs25,000 to Rs30,000. Women's toilets will be set up at busy public places such as markets at an estimated budget of Rs1 crore. The budget for scholarship to school children would be increased to Rs50 lakh. Solar panels would be erected in municipal schools at a budget of Rs 50 lakh.

As promised earlier, no new tax has been introduced and none of the existing taxes raised. "We can't burden the public," a councillor said. In his budget speech, the commissioner had proposed new taxes and increase in property tax and parking rates.