PUNE: Pimpri Chinchwad
municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi presented a draft budget of Rs
3,248.14 crore for 2013-14 on Thursday. Substantial provisions for 24×7
water supply, Pavana river development project and a plan for promoting
tourism are the highlights of the budget. Pardeshi has announced several
citizen-friendly projects, including development of citizen
facilitation centres and provision for ward-specific works.

The budgetary outlay includes provision for JNNURM
projects. Pardeshi, who presented the budget to standing committee
chairman Jagdish Shetty, said some of the special features this year
include creation of a model ward in Nigdi-Pradhikaran zone, construction
of an open air auditorium on the lines of the Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, a
central city library and construction of a new auditorium in Akurdi.

“The 24×7 water supply scheme will, initially, cover 40% of the area
and the project is expected to be completed in the next three years. A
detailed project report will be prepared for the work,” he said.
Pimpri-Chinchwad is developing into a new city for which a tourism plan
has been envisaged. For the benefit of citizens, the municipal
corporation plans to provide citizens’ facilitation centres where they
will get municipal services as well as services pertaining to regional
transport office, state transport, Life Insurance Corporation,
BSNL, MSEDCL and police department. Municipal ward centres will be
constructed in each ward. A provision of over Rs 71 crore each has been
set aside for the four zones for implementation of ward-level works.

The civic administration has made a provision of Rs 38 crore for Pune
Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited. The provision was made as per
the decision taken at a meeting convened by deputy chief minister Ajit
Pawar in Mumbai last month. Pawar had directed both Pune and
Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations to make a provision of 2% of the
total budgetary outlay.

Pardeshi said octroi will be replaced
by local body tax from April this year. About 60% of the total revenue
is expected to come from this tax. The remaining revenue will be
generated by way of civic taxes, government grants, and interest amount
on investments.