Indian Express 08.06.2010
Kolkata Municipal Corporation: house of riches
Express News Service Tags : KMC, kolkata Posted: Tue Jun 08 2010, 03:15 hrs
Kolkata: With an annual budget of over Rs 5,000 crore, the 141-ward Kolkata Municipal Corporation is flush with funds. Besides, there are grants from the Centre and international funding bodies too. For instance, KMC got Rs 496 crore under JNNURM to upgrade underground sewer lines but it asked for Rs 254 crore more, citing cost escalation. Then there is Kolkata Environment Improvement Project worth Rs 2000 crore, sanctioned in 2000 though work started only in 2005. KMC’s grants from the state and the central governments alone total around Rs 720.45 annually. Each councillor has at his disposal an area development fund worth Rs 5 lakh.Source of Revenue
* Property tax
* Sewerage and drainage tax
* Trade licence fee
* Revenue from buildings
* Conservancy tax
Perks and privileges of Mayor
* Unlimited medical benefit
* Unlimited mobile bill
* A flat in KMC guesthouse
* A vehicle
* Mayor Relief Fund worth crores
