Civic Centre, Delhi
– Photo: Amar Ujala
The MCD passed the budget for the next financial year amid a tussle between the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP over the election of the mayor, deputy mayor and members of the standing committee.
The budget presented by the Corporation Commissioner has been approved by the Special Officer. MCD has decided to pay special attention to education, cleanliness, greenery and health services next year along with solving the problem of garbage. However, to loosen the pockets of the general public, the rebate given on depositing property tax by June 30 has been cut. MCD will now give 10 percent discount instead of 15.
The MCD gave the green signal to the budget on Wednesday when the central government’s budget was being presented in Parliament. The special thing is that the officials are completely silent regarding the passing of the budget. The councilors of Aam Aadmi Party and BJP have no information about this. It is mandatory to pass the MCD budget in the House by February 15. This time, due to non-existence of the House, the commissioner got the budget passed by the special officer and now the House will not be able to change the budget proposals. MCD will spend about 17 thousand crores next year, while it has an estimated income of 16 thousand crores. The loss of one thousand crore rupees will be compensated by saving this year.
Most will be spent on the cleaning system. The MCD has set a target of spending around 25% on cleanliness. About 18% will be spent on education and 10% on health services. Similarly, 11% will also be spent on the development works of roads, streets, street lights etc.
Highlights of the budget
MCD has declared 49 colonies and group housing societies as zero waste colonies and 35 colonies and group housing societies as green friends in the direction of making zero waste. These colonies will be given a rebate of 5% in property tax.
All schools will be converted into smart schools. All the classrooms will be equipped with interactive panels and white boards. The campuses of all the schools will be equipped with CCTV cameras, solar panels, rain water harvesting system and disabled friendly infrastructure facilities. All schools will be equipped with modern and digital libraries. Playgrounds will be developed. Cycles will be provided to meritorious students.
500 at Bank Street Karol Bagh, 1836 at Punjabi Bagh Club Road Bharat Darshan Park and Idgah Road, 577 at Shastri Park Karol Bagh, 464 at Rajendra Nagar, 381 at Pusa Link Parking, 580 at Madipur Metro Station, 350 at RG Complex Paharganj, Parking will be made for 176 cars in Old MCD Zonal Office, SP Zone, 238 in GK-2 Market.
The work of eliminating the garbage at Okhla and Bhalswa landfill site will be done by December this year and the work of eliminating the mountain of garbage at Ghazipur landfill site will be done by December 2024. Engineering landfill site will be established near Tehkhand and Okhla. STP will be set up to use the drain water.
Green space and herbal park will be developed in Kondli. Jerrycap Garden will be developed near Deshbandhu Apartment. In view of the G-20 summit, pots with 150,000 plants will be purchased. To facilitate dust management and waste management, 16 STPs of 50 KLD capacity will be set up along the pipeline in the parks.