East MCD presents Budget, proposes property tax exemption

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) in its Budget presentation on Monday proposed exemption of property tax to residential properties up to 41.81 square metre, reduction of conversion charges from Rs 192 to Rs 100 per square metre. It also proposed centres in Municipal schools to teach illiterate children. The Budget proposed by the standing committee chairman will be discussed and finalised by the EDMC's 'House' with amendments before February 14.

On December 8, EDMC commissioner had presented a deficit Budget of Rs 2,243 crore, which is likely to be increased with new sops, if finalised by the house.

"I proposed that residential properties upto 41.81 square metre be exempted from property tax as they mostly belong to poor people. Reduction of conversion charges from Rs 192 per square metre to Rs 100 per square metre and reduction of penalty from 10 times to three times. The service of property mutation would be made available online from next year," he said.

"About Rs 5,000 crore is pending towards EDMC by the Delhi government as per the recommendations of third and fourth Delhi Finance Commission.

Despite the shortage of funds, EDMC has tried to make optimal use of its limited resources to provide best possible civic services to the citizens," said Chaudhary, alleging that, due to non-cooperation of Delhi government, the EDMC has been facing financial crisis which is affecting the development work.

The Standing Committee Chairman proposed opening of two diagnosis centres and development of health check up kits. "Collection centres would be developed at each dispensary of the Corporation. Heart checkup centres would be developed and health checkup kits will be made available at primary health centres and polyclinics of the Corporation for diagnosis of heart-related diseases," added the Standing Committee Chairman.

Easing the sanction of building plan, Chaudhary said that development of property over an area between 106 square metre to 500 square metre would not require building sanction plan from the Corporation. "Property owners can get the building plan passed from their architects and intimate the Corporation."