In a bid to make North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC) a self-reliant, Additional Commissioner Swati Sharma tabled the revised Budget estimates of 2020-21 and Budget estimates for the year 2021-22.
The civic body has taken several steps to boost its revenue including putting advertisements on vehicles, cycle stands and renting out space for 20 mobile towers. It also expects to generate Rs 50 lakhs per annum from advertisement on walls of 30 parks.
Sharma said that Rs 22.60 Crore is expected from auctioning of 18 shops at Asaf Ali Road. “Similarly, Rs 12.73 Crore from leasing out two plots at Karampura, Rs 26.00 Crore from auctioning of 21 properties viz. flats/shops /offices at Nimri Colony, Kashmere Gate, Azadpur and Gaffar Market, Karol Bagh, Rs 74.88 Lakhs from renting space at Polyclinic Jawalapuri and Ayush Dispensary at Kirari ar expected,” she said.
The Additional Commissioner further said that cellular tower on wheel policy (COW Policy) will also be implemented. According to this policy, signal communication can be ensured by installing mobile towers on wheels at the required places. Online Application for seeking permission has already been launched, he said.
Under non-plan head, North DMC has received Rs 212.53 Crore as Basic Tax Assignment share for this financial year so far out of the total allocation of Rs 850.12 Crore in the Delhi Government budget Rs 106.26 Crore have been deducted as installment to loan re-payment by Delhi Government.
Besides, due to stoppage of the grants in plan head by Delhi Government, the losses accrue to Rs 4,178 Crore, she said.
“The liabilities of the corporation have increased to the tune of Rs 7,523.97 from Rs 6,176.32 Crore from last year. Due to Corona pandemic, the overall recovery in tax collection has been reduced. So, a special alternate arrangement for special grant or interest free long term loan from State or Union,” she said during the speech.
The leader of the Congress party in the Corporation Mukesh Goyal said that the budget estimate of income of Rs 9206 crore for the financial year 2021-22 has been presented through the Additional Commissioner but in the current financial year, the budget estimate of Rs one thousand crore has to be cut by Rs 3,020 crore.
“It can be inferred from this that the figures given in the budget are for show only. They have nothing to do with reality. It will be difficult to get even half of the income claimed in next year's budget proposals as there was no discussion on ways of increasing income in the budget,” he said.