Deficit NMC budget for the first time in 14 years

Nagpur, Oct 20

GST grant has increased to Rs 100 crore but despite this NMC standing committee chairman Vijay Zalke has presented a deficit budget of Rs 466.6 crore compared to last year. For the last 14 years, Bharatiya Janata Party is in power in NMC and for the first time deficit budget has been tabled. On Tuesday. Zalke presented online budget. Several technical snags developed during the occasion. However, Zalke read his 26-page budget paper in about 1 hour 45 minutes. During this time, many members also complained of the sound not being heard. The budget will be discussed online on October 22.

Zalke presented the proposed budget of Rs 2731 crore for the year 2020-21. Only three months are left for the implementation of the budget. For this reason, Zalke has not announced any big and new schemes in the budget. Emphasis will be laid on completing old schemes only. The old work for which the work order has been released will be completed fast.

The previous standing committee chairman Pradip Pohane presented a proposed budget of Rs 3197.60 crore. However, the ruling party is blaming Covid for this cut. They argue that due to Covid, NMC’s earnings have been stagnant for the last eight months.

If you look at the budget, you will find that leaving the remaining Rs 231 crore, the original budget of Zalke is Rs 2500 crore while the then NMC commissioner Tukaram Mundhe presented a proposed budget of Rs 2624 crore for the year 2020-21. It also included the remaining amount of Rs 76.82 crore. In such a situation, keeping the remaining amount aside, Mundhe''s proposed budget was Rs 2547.22 crore. In such a situation, it is clear that the original budget of Zalke is less than the original budget of Mundhe by Rs 47.22 crore.

Proposed budget of standing committee

Year Budget

2012-13 1128

2013-14 1427

2014-15 1645

2015-16 1964

2016-17 2048

2017-18 2271/97

2018-19 2946

2019-20 3187.60

2020-21 2713

Note: Budget in crores of rupees

Will complete the old work: Zalke

Standing committee chairman Vijay Zalke said that the tenure of eight months had spoiled due to Covid. The then NMC commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had put on hold the work of Rs 347 crore. It is not a deficit budget but a real budget, he said. “The delay has happened in presenting the budget due to Covid. I have tried to present some new projects like mobile dispensary, cadaver box and math garden,” he said.

Only three months to implement: Joshi

On the question of presenting the deficit budget, Mayor Sandip Joshi said that everyone has prepared the budget together. “The commissioner''s budget will come in February. October is going on. There is only three months to work in such a situation. Because of this, there was no justification for making the budget larger. Anyway, Covid has affected the economy of NMC,” he said.

Proposed income

Head Target

GST grant1236

Property tax223.35

Water tax175.21

Revenue grant175.21

Town planning 110.50

Market 14.75

Establishment12.05

LBT 2.50

Health 7.39

Fire 3.04

Electricity25.05

PWD 2.02

Hotmix 2.25

Other taxes3.08

Other income45.21

Capital grant209.20

Capital debt178

Deposit 63.38

Advance income12.02

Note: Target in crores of rupees