In his Budget proposal for the next financial year, Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Puneet Kumar Goel unfolded an ambitious plan to install solar panels in 450 school buildings and 40 various Municipal buildings. The Commissioner has also proposed to convert all street lights into LED in the next financial year besides augmenting infrastructure for sanitation works especially Swachh Delhi Abhiyan and maintenance of small roads under the jurisdiction of the civic body.
“Solar panels in school buildings and several other Municipal buildings will be installed next year. Computer aided learning lab facility will be ensured in as many as 589 schools. SDMC has signed an MOU with a Government of India organisation for conversion of nearly 2 lakh street lights. This year we have converted a total of 62,000 street lights to LED. If things go well the move will help in saving Rs 5.4 crore unit electricity and Rs 48.49 crore for SDMC along with reduction of greenhouse gases,” said Goel.
The Commissioner, while tabling the Revised Budget Estimates 2016-2017 to the Standing Committee, also estimated a fiscal deficit of Rs 200 crore. The Commissioner said that introduction of new taxes is necessary as fiscal deficit for year 2016-17 is expected to touch Rs 4,056 crore. He also informed that since the trifurcation to the current financial year the SDMC was in a profit of Rs 585 crore in 2012-13, Rs 200 crore in 2013-14, Rs 600 crore in 2014-15 and Rs 464 crore in 2015-16 but in the next fiscal year it is likely to witness a reverse trend with estimate income and expenditure of Rs 3,857 crore and Rs 4,056 crore respectively.
The Corporation, while expecting the loss for first time ever, has announced steep hike in property taxes, advertisement charges, etc. In residential properties, the Commissioner proposed two per cent hike in A and B categories, one per cent hike in C, D and E categories. Though there is no hike proposed in special non-residential properties but several categories, which were exempted earlier, were included.
“The agency is running in loss and the need of the day is to increase its revenue. Besides proposing new tax and new slabs, we have been working on new policies for parking and advertisement as both are major source of income for the Corporation. If recommendations of the Seventh Pay Panel takes shape, it will hole extra Rs 300 crore in Corporation’s pocket too. With implementation of the hike the Corporation will get additional revenue of Rs 300 crore,” said the Commissioner.
The Revised Budget estimates also emphasised over sanitation across the city. Focus was laid over integrated system of waste management including collection, transpiration, recycling and energy generation through it. The civic agency also assured to improve health facilities in major hospitals that fall under its jurisdiction. For education sector, it announced several initiatives and opening of over a dozen of schools by next year. “Despite financial crunch of nearly Rs 800 crore or 21 per cent of the total expenditure will be made in the sanitation sector. Additionally, Rs 42 crore, received from centre for “Swachh Delhi Abhiyan”, will be spent on sanitation activities,” he said.
The Corporation also proposed to construct 100 new toilets and add 1,500 cycle rickshaws for door-to-door garbage collection scheme. As many as 5,000 dustbins, four sucker machines, two bulldozers and two excavators will be purchased this year. New C&D waste plants at Tajpur Pahari and Bakarwala will be set up. Waste to Energy Plants will be constructed in West and South Zone. About 15 Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) for parks, 2,000 dustbins for parks and 3,000 new park benches will be ensured.