The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) will go for 100 per cent digital transaction from April 2017 and all necessary arrangements are being made to accept payments from credit and debit cards in the offices. A mobile app is also being developed for availing civic services.
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 Rs30 crore of revenue to the EDMC annually. The corporation has also proposed to develop Preet Vihar and Vasundara Enclave EDMC in its Budget proposals for 2017-18 showing a whopping deficit of Rs2,243.25 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 Rs1,578.88 crore and Rs3,822.13 crore respectively.
As per the revised Budget estimates of the year 2016-17, the civic body will have a deficit of Rs2,041 crore. However, arrears of Rs4,928 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 Rs590 crore of arrears of employees and final payments of retirees, Rs600 crore arrears of regularisation of Paryavaran Sahayak (sanitation workers) and Rs150 crore dues of contractors.
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 Rs23 crore. Also, second phase and landscaping will be done after provision of funds for development of Shahdara lake.