The Times of India       30.12.2014 

PCMC spends 78% of revenue earned, development works to speed up

PUNE:
The progress of development works in Pimpri Chinchwad has been slow in
the first nine months of the financial year, but it is likely to pick up
momentum by March, say civic officials.

Of the Rs 1,130.66
crore earned till December, the PCMC was able to spend Rs 888.14 crore
(roughly 78%). The sources of revenue were the Local Body Tax (Rs 732.07
crore), property tax (Rs 185.54 crore), capital income (Rs 15.91
crore), building permission (Rs 138.04 crore), water tax and others (Rs
15.79 crore).

The expenditure target of the engineering
department, which carries out development works, was revised to Rs
605.38 crore. However, it was able to spend Rs 202.52 crore only.
Similarly, the electrical and water supply departments were not able to
carry out the planned expenditures. The total revenue expenditure till
December was Rs 590.03 crore. The PMPML fund and water supply fund have
been allotted Rs 52 crore and Rs 1.06 crore respectively.

Pramod Bhosale, chief accounts officer, PCMC, said, ”There were two
election code of conducts in this financial year so we could not invite
bids for carrying out development works or allot work orders. The work
orders will be issued in the coming few months.”

Leader of
opposition Vinod Nadhe said, “Most of the bids approved were 40% to 45%
below the estimated cost prepared by the civic administration. So the
quality of works is bound to suffer. Besides, meetings of the
all-important standing committee are adjourned frequently, which delays
the work further. The ward-level works as well as big development works
are either pending or moving at a slow pace.”