EDMC Budget proposals focus on sanitation, revenue generation

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) Budget proposals for 2017-18 showing a whopping deficit of Rs 2243.25 crore were presented on Wednesday with focus on sanitation and revenue generation.

Presenting the Budget proposals in a special meeting of standing committee, EDMC Commissioner Mohanjeet Singh said the budget estimates for 2017-18 include income and expenditure of Rs 1,578.88 crore and Rs 3,822.13 crore respectively.

As per the revised Budget estimates of the year 2016-17, the civic body will have a deficit of Rs 2,041 crore.

However, arrears of Rs 4,928 crore as per recommendations of 4th Delhi Finance Commission, of corporation are pending with government since 2012-13, he said.

The financially ailing EDMC has huge liabilities including Rs 590 crore of arrears of employees and final payments of retirees, Rs 600 crore arrears of regularisation of Paryavaran Sahayak (sanitation workers) and Rs 150 crore dues of contractors.

The municipal corporation will go for 100 per cent digital transaction from April 2017 and necessary arrangements are being made to accept credit and debit cards in the offices. A mobile app is also being developed for availing civic services, Singh said. 

With an aim to generate revenue, three taxes including education cess, profession/trade calling tax and betterment tax have been proposed by the commissioner in his budget proposals. These taxes if levied can yield Rs 30 crore of revenue to the corporation per annum. In the area of sanitation, EDMC is developing Preet Vihar and Vasundhara Enclave as ‘model colonies’ having best solid waste management practices.

The civic body will implement the “Polluter Must Pay” norm of MSW Rules 2016, from the next financial years, he said. The EDMC in collaboration with Urban Development Ministry, NHAI, and Ministry of Surface Transport would reclaim Gazipur landfill site. Agreement to this effect was signed on November 29, the commissioner said.

The developmental works of EDMC include multilevel car parking at Krishna Nagar at a cost of Rs 23 Crore. Also, second phase and landscaping will be done after provision of funds for development of Shahdara lake.