With the focus on revamping education and health system, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) Commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel on Friday presented Budget proposals for 2018-19.
The Budget estimates revealed a revenue of Rs 4,571.71 crore while expenditure of Rs 4,977.93 crore. The Corporation has estimated 69 per cent revenue from internal source, 14 per cent from grants, 12 per cent from global share of taxes and 5 per cent from Municipal Reform Funds. Out of the total expenditure, 18.08 per cent has been allocated for education, 23.76 per cent for sanitation, 19.08 per cent for engineering while 5.38 per cent for health.
Presenting the budget proposals in a special meeting of the standing committee, Commissioner proposed smart classes in 77 schools besides installation of green boards in 465 classrooms and creation of separate web application portal for education department are some of the features of the budget speech.
The Commissioner said that of four new midday meal kitchen with modern state-of-art facilities would be constructed in one school each in four zones. Various other proposals were highlighted to improve enrolment in SDMC schools including increasing of uniform subsidy from Rs 600 to Rs 1100, development of sports complex in ten schools with the help of Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Besides, the civic body has also proposed to initiate programmes to improve educational schemes such as ‘School Quality Enhancement Programme, ‘Let’s Read Programme, Science club, and ‘Engagement of Councillors’ in schools. CCTV cameras have been installed in 62 schools and provision is made to install the same in remaining schools.
It was also highlighted that an amnesty scheme for the residential properties in unauthorised colonies to waive off complete interest and penalty on payment of the principal amount.
The Commissioner in his budget estimates also highlighted various initiatives and proposals in different areas, including generation of electricity by installing solar panels in 55 building for production of 2.5-megawatt electricity.
It was also proposed that the construction of CNG based cremation ground in Green Park and Dwarka will be constructed under CSR financial assistance by ONGC. Four new sterilisation centers also proposed for stray dogs. Further, it was also proposed to construct 100 bed hospitals at Fatehpurberi.
Among other major decisions, the budget has also proposed a 1 per cent education cess levied on the annual value of the property. It was also proposed to levy the property tax on non -residential properties according to the categories. The proposal is to fix 20 per cent to category A to ‘F and 15 per cent to G and H categories. A proposal was also made to do away with the 20 per cent additional rebate on cooperative group housing societies. “Property tax collection is being done mainly through online and 2% rebate for paying tax through online,” he informed.
In sanitation area, orders have been placed to procure 12 suction jetting machines, 31 battery operated litre picker machines, 62 lightweight vehicles, four light power spraying machines and two weighing machines to weight the waste. A waste-to-energy plant at Tehkhand village, biomethanisation plant, ‘Contruction and Demolition’ waste processing plant at Bakarwala have also been proposed.