The Times of India           05.02.2014

Mayor's cup will not be held this year

NASHIK: The cash-strapped Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to hold the annual sports event, the Mayoral Cup, every alternate year. The event will not take place this year and has been deferred till next year.

The event, which was expected to be held in January in the current fiscal, has been cancelled by the civic body due to financial crunch.

The decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the heads of the departments (HODs) of the municipal corporation called by municipal commissioner Sanjay Khandare to review the budget of each department for the next financial year, 2014-15.

Speaking to TOI, an official from the NMC said, "The NMC had made a provision of Rs 1 crore for the mayoral cup in the budget for the current fiscal and the event was expected to be held in January. But the financial condition of the NMC is poor due to decline in revenue through the new tax system, the Local Body Tax (LBT), which has replaced octroi from May 22 last year. This is the reason we have cancelled the annual mayoral cup kabaddi event to curb expenses."

"Moreover, it has also been decided to hold the event once every two years, instead of holding it every year," he added.

Corporator Sanjay Chavan of the Shahar Vikas Aghadi said, "While other small municipal corporations in the state, like Chandrapur, are organizing various sports competitions every year to promote sports, NMC has decided to cut down on such activities. As per the state government norms, it is compulsory for the municipal corporations to spend 5% of their total budget on promoting sports. Meanwhile, the NMC has also decided to prepare its own sports policy and is spending Rs 20 crore on making playgrounds in the city. What is its use of playgrounds if the civic body is not promoting sports activities? The city already has an indoor stadium with all facilities, so there is no need to spend Rs 1 crore on organizing the event. Funds are needed for arranging for prizes. The mayoral kabaddi cup can be held even at a cost of just Rs 5 - Rs 10 lakh."

The mayoral cup is traditionally organized annually by the standing committee of the NMC with the objective of promoting sports among youths. The competitions were started by the civic body in 1992. Under the mayoral cup, the NMC covers various sports like cricket, football, wrestling, bodybuilding and marathon run. The last event was held in December 2012 and this year's annual mayoral cup was expected to be held in January last month.

Earlier, octroi was the major source of income of the NMC, which used to earn around 62% of the total revenue through it. But, following the directives from the state government, LBT was introduced from May 22 last year, replacing octroi. With that move, the revenue has declined.

According to sources, the NMC earned a revenue of Rs 490 crore by January 20 in 2013-14, against Rs 554 crore during the corresponding period in the last fiscal. Of the Rs 490 crore earned, Rs 342 crore was generated through LBT, Rs 12.58 crore through escort, Rs 29 crore through stamp duty and Rs 106.42 crore through octroi (from April 1 to May 21).

The Pioneer             04.02.2014

CDA observes World Wetlands Day at Ansupa

The speakers spoke about various utilities of the wetland. Junior Soil Conservation Officer Chandan Sahoo delivered welcome address, while Himansu Sekhar Patnaik proposed vote of thanks. Notably, the Forest department has erected three bamboo cottages for the halting of visitors while the Horticulture department is maintaining and developing an eco-garden with active guidance of its Section Officer Himansu Patnaik.