SMC begins discussion on 2018-19 civic budget

Surat: The first day of the two-day Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) general board meeting on Monday took up on agenda the general budget 2018-19 for discussion and passing. Councillors from opposition Congress and ruling BJP attacked each other during the discussions, but there was no ruckus. Congress councillor Bhupendra Solanki criticized the civic body for not getting money from the state government, but levying heavy taxes on people. Standing committee chairman Rajesh Desai justifying the hikes in the draft budget said user charges were not collected for a decade despite MoUand agreement on JnNURMduring UPA government’s time. tnn