Gearing up for municipal polls, Delhi Congress on Monday came out with a detailed roadmap to revive the financial condition of the three municipal corporations, claiming that Congress will make the “financially-ailing corporations self-reliant” within two years if voted to power.
The draft plan was unveiled by former Finance Minister P Chidamabaram and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, as the party is eyeing a comeback in the civic elections after severe drubbing in the last Delhi Assembly elections in which it drew a blank.
The former Union Minister then quoted from the draft blueprint to buttress his point. “So, if we look at the arrears to sanitation workers, the EDMC has to give Rs 461.83 crore. Then the SDMC says, I am better with Rs 547.30 crore and then the NDMC decided to be the ‘best’ saying, the arrears stand at Rs 550 crore. It’s a race to hit the bottom first,” he alleged.
The draft blueprint also envisages Rs 2,000 crore annual fund for development of infrastructure-deficit areas, particularly the unauthorised colonies. The former Finance Minister said unlike other big corporations, which generate more than 50 per cent of the revenue from property tax collection, the MCD is doing just about 40 per cent.
“Both tax and non-tax revenue collection in Delhi is unfortunately, far below par. Non-tax revenue through areas like advertising and parking can definitely be boosted and the draft proposes that as well.”Delhi is a flourishing city, per capita income is the highest, Chandigarh is close, which means people have aspirations to live a life of dignity. And people will pay if they have faith that the money will be spent wisely,” he said.
Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken said “Property tax collections in all the three municipal corporations are remained unchanged for long. According to 4th finance commission report only one third eligible properties comes under tax net. The collected Rs 1,600 crore as property tax is just 33 per cent of the potential”.
“Delhi could be self- reliant if there is no corruption and pilferage of resources like revenue from toll tax, property tax, advertisement charges. The roadmap on fiscal management and resource generation to make civic agencies financially self-reliant,” Maken alleged.
“We will keep aside Rs 2000 crore per year for development of infrastructure deficit areas particularly slums and unauthorized colonies.The party would create special funds for the development of unauthorized colonies, so as to ensure that development works in these colonies do not suffer due to shortage of funds,” he said.
He further said that it is indeed very surprising that while the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) has a fixed deposit of Rs 51,000 crore, the Municipal Corporations of Delhi do not have funds to pay the salaries of the sanitation workers, and pensions of others. We have the experience, willingness and plans to make the MCDs self-reliant.