On Saturday, The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 was presented by MCD Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti. The proposed budget stands at Rs 16,683 crore, indicating an increase of Rs 659 crore from the previous fiscal year, where the budget was Rs 16,024 crore. The estimated income for the upcoming fiscal is Rs 15,686.99 crore, compared to the last fiscal year's budget.
The body announced a record-breaking revenue of Rs 2,417 crore for the fiscal year 2023-24, marking a substantial growth of approximately Rs 400 crore compared to last year, the highest-ever revenue in the Corporation's history derived from property tax.
The budget was presented without the presence of a standing committee (the MCD's principal governing body), for the first time. The formation of the 18-member committee is currently held up in court due to a call by the Aam Aadmi Party for a fresh poll to elect six members of the statutory committee.
Among the new proposals by the Commissioner, the budget focuses on an artificial intelligence-based system to identify and improve civic services like parking facilities in Preet Vihar, East Patel Nagar, and Kotla Mubarakpur wards. Moreover, a waste-to-energy plant with a capacity of 3,600 TDP in Narela-Bawana was introduced.
The budget also included several other initiatives, such as the establishment of libraries in 44 MCD schools, a lactation management unit at Swami Dayanand Hospital, and the incorporation of 60 new testing labs at primary health centers.
Photo: BNN Breaking
Furthermore, the body initiated the construction of 20 school buildings, the installation of 25 smart interactive panels in MCD schools, the sterilization of 1 lakh stray dogs, the introduction of 21 FASTag parking facilities, and the creation of a state-of-the-art nursery.
The budget plan also encompassed the expansion of capacity at Okhla and Tehkhand waste-to-energy plants. Additionally, it included the completion of the Delhi Darshan Park Phase II, Dinosaur Park, and Heritage Park, all falling under the Waste-to-Art theme.
Moreover, the budget introduced a tax incentive for educational institutions. This incentive, under the Sahbhagita scheme, offers a 5% additional benefit to educational institutions with a land area exceeding 10 acres, contingent upon these institutions depositing 100% of their property tax.
However, opposition leaders raised concerns about the budget's passage and presentation in the absence of a standing committee.
Leader of Opposition in the MCD, Raja Iqbal Singh, criticized the Aam Aadmi Party's inability to establish permanent committees, including ward committees, which led to the Commissioner presenting the budget in the municipal assembly, deemed entirely unconstitutional.
Mayor Shelly Oberoi stated that the awaited "real" budget hinges on a public opinion exercise initiated by the AAP. Councilors from the party will engage with citizens in the first week of February to collect feedback. Meetings with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and market associations will follow in a week, shaping the final budget to be presented within two months, as per officials.
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