Major allocations for pro-people measures

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is all set to introduce Unit Area Assessment (UAA), the new method of assessing property tax from April 1 this year.

Mayor Sovan Chatterjee on Saturday said that new method of assessing tax will be implemented within the jurisdiction of the KMC from April 1 which will help in augmenting the revenue of the civic body and stop harassment of taxpayers and iron out corruption in the Revenue department.

Chatterjee on Saturday presented a deficit Budget of around Rs 159 crore of the KMC for the financial year 2017-18. While tabling the Budget, Mayor said that the projected expenditure for the financial year was Rs 3,38,988 lakh while the income stood at Rs 3,23,050 lakh.

The KMC has set a revenue target of Rs 974.11 crore in the next financial year. The civic body has proposed an allocation of Rs 374.71 crore to the Water Supply Department for 2017-18 to continue the process of development. Mayor Chatterjee also proposed to allocate an amount of Rs 571.99 crore to the Solid Waste Management department for 2017-18. GPRS with vehicle tracking system including post-implementation support and maintenance for a period of five years have been initiated for monitoring 450 vehicles' movements at major VAT points.

The proposed allotment for the 2017-18 financial year would be Rs 119.69 crore for Lighting and Electricity department, Rs 42.99 crore for parks and squares, Rs 258.33 crore for Sewerage and Drainage department, Rs 143.28 crore for Health, Rs 20.28 crore for the Social Sector and Urban Poverty Alleviation department and Rs 148.89 crore for the Bustee department.

The step was taken for impartial and more transparent assessment of taxes. The KMC has already classified civic areas into seven categories and 293 blocks. A draft scheme has already been published in the gazette notification for the annual assessment of properties. The civic body has also decided to conduct fresh annual valuation as per the new method to release the extra tax burden on the people.

The new method of assessment will help taxpayers to self assess their properties. With the number of taxpayers going up to 7.55 lakh, the civic body is hopeful that it will achieve the target by the end of the financial year. The KMC is going to introduce online systems of issuing Building Completion Plans. The civic body also decided to amend rules for the advantage of small plot holders.

The civic body has taken up various development works including construction of roads, by-lanes and laying of drainage pipelines and other beautification works. Under a PPP model, foot-over bridges are being constructed at important locations of the city.

It may be mentioned that a pandemonium prevailed after the Left front, Congress and BJP Councilors at the KMC during the Budget session raised slogans alleging that the "tainted" Mayor had no right to table the Budget. Chatetrjee, however, went ahead with his Budget speech.

Chatterjee said: "Accusing someone does not necessarily mean that he/she has committed the offence. After being rejected by the people, the Oppositions are trying to halt the progress of development works initiated by the KMC."