NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), which took over the collection of octroi from a private contractor on May 19, recorded a growth of 35% in three months as compared to 2011.

On April 13, the general body had decided that the NMC take over octroi collection which was in private hands for two years. Accordingly, the NMC took charge of the octroi posts on May 19, when the erstwhile contract expired. The general body on April 13 had decided that the octroi collection that was in private hands for two years would be taken over by the NMC after the contract of the agency got over on May 18. Accordingly, the NMC trained its staff and took over the octroi posts on May 18.

Last year, the NMC's octroi collection was Rs 135 crores in the first three months. This year, the collection during the same period is Rs 183 crores. "We have collected Rs 28.5 crore more this quarter as compared to last year. This is 35% rise in the octroi collection. There should be, as per the rules, 15% growth from the previous year," said deputy commissioner of the NMC's octroi department, Haribhau Phadol. This growth has also exceeded the 25% rise as suggested by the municipal commissioner in his proposed budget.

"During the off season, we have been collecting Rs 2 crore octroi everyday. Also, there is industrial slack and we are not getting as much octroi from this sector as we should. We are certain that the total octroi collection would increase once the offseason is over," said Phadol.

In the municipal commissioner's proposed budget, a target of Rs 656 crores had been mentioned. According to the rules, it should be Rs 603 crores.

The deputy commissioner said that at this rate the NMC would cross a collection of Rs 700 crore.The collection of octroi had been privatised two years ago by the then Shiv Sena-BJP alliance that was ruling the NMC. When the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena wrested power in the civic elections held in February this year, it decided to end privatisation.

KOLKATA: Kolkata Municipal Corporation's move to beautify the city with trident lights has trigged a controversy yet again. The civic body had spent Rs 17,690 on the installation of every trident light. But it now wants to 'sell' the lights to Salt Lake, Nabadiganta and South Dum Dum municipalities for Rs 9,600 each.

The lights will be manufactured at the KMC workshop in Entally. Tarak Singh, the member, mayor-in-council, overseeing the KMC workshop recently wrote a letter to the state municipal affairs minister Firhad Hakim expressing the desire to supply trident lights at a much lower rate.

Singh has also written to the chairperson of the Trinamool-run Salt Lake Municipality asking whether it needed trident lights.

The move raised eyebrows at several quarters of the civic body. Officials wondered why the KMC lighting department had accepted the offer of paying Rs 17,690 when the Salt Lake Municipality had paid Rs 13, 594.

Former municipal auditor Manabendra Mukherjee had also objected to the way in which the decorative lights were installed across the city and doubted the project's financial viability.

"That is the reason why the civic top brass had overruled the tender committee and went for installation of the trident lights by inviting notice invite tender," a senior KMC official said.

Opposition leader Rupa Bagchi and Congress councillor Prakash Upadhyay were very dissatisfied with the project. Mayor Sovan Chatterjee on Thursday assured Bagchi and Upadhyay that the entire process (from awarding contract to installation) of the 'trident light controversy' will be taken up at the next mayor-in-council meeting.