Proposal to reduce incentive for early tax payers rejected

Rajkot: The standing committee of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) on Monday approved the budget of Rs 2,131.15 crore for the financial year 2020-21. The municipal commissioner had presented the budget of Rs 2,119.98 crore on February 1. The standing committee increased the budget size by Rs 12.17 crore and added some new schemes as this being an election year.
The standing committee has increased the saleable FSI (floor space index) target by Rs 10 crore. Standing committee chairman Uday Kangad said, “We have not imposed any new tax on citizens and tried to present the realistic picture. The new schemes announced have realistic targets and soon the citizen will see the results.”
RMC commissioner Udit Agrawal had proposed to reduce the amount of incentives for early tax payers, which the standing committee rejected and continued with the incentive scheme for those who pay tax early or online. The panel approved Rs 10 crore for road work and hiked the municipal councillor’s grant to Rs 15 lakh from current Rs 10 lakh.
The approved proposal also includes urban forestation in Aji dam area and recreational activities in the same area besides landscaping, water harvesting, and road development. For this the standing committee allotted Rs 12 crore.
A provision of Rs 50 lakh has been made for providing medical facilities to the stray animal in animal hostels. RMC also plans to construct new community halls in ward 1,3,6 and 13 in next financial year and for this a budget of Rs 3.35 crore has been allotted.