Nagpur: Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has revised the system of making budget for NMC to bring it in line with Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (MMC) Act. He plans to include all works to be executed in entire financial year in the budget itself at the beginning of the particular fiscal year.
The objectives are to take up priority works, bring in transparency, cut short administrative process, and match expenditure with income. The move is likely to put an end to discretionary powers of office bearers in distributing funds and allegations of opposition corporators about getting unfair treatment.
Except in 2006-07 and 2007-08, NMC has been listing only big projects in the budget and funds allocated for them in the budget. For the rest, general provisions were made without mentioning specific works. For example, budget allocates Rs 70 crore for tar road works but fails to mention which roads will be taken up. After approving the budget, general body empowers standing committee chairman to decide which roads will be repaired.
The departments have to seek a letter from chairman before preparing any proposal. They then put up proposal seeking administrative approval and complete tendering process and again seek approval for work order. At every step, civic chief’s approval is also required.
NMC sources told TOI, Mundhe asked the officials to prepare his budget mentioning all works. This has delayed the budget beyond Feb 15 deadlines in MMC Act.
BJP corporator Dayashankar Tiwari opposed the move saying NMC’s revenue was uncertain so works cannot be decided in advance. “Existing system enables NMC to propose works as per requirements and situation in prevailing conditions. NMC officials and engineers have no idea about problems at ground level so it is not possible to include all works in the budget itself. Civic chief has been given powers to revise budget in January as per estimated income. There is no need to revise existing system,” he said.
Congress corporator Sandip Sahare however said revision will ensure unbiased distribution of funds and priority to required works. “Also, works will be speeded up with more transparency. It will prevent overlapping of works, wastage of public money and unnecessary inflating the budget. The system should be implemented in distribution of funds for Backward Class head. Funds meant for Backward Class are being spent in unqualified areas by ruling party,” he said.
Independent corporator Abha Pande said existing system should continue. “Corporators will lose say in proposing works under new system. Officials are unaware of problems at ground level. If Mundhe wishes to revise the system, he should hold meetings with officials and corporators and prepare the list before budget,” she said.
Shiv Sena corporator Kishor Kumeriya said Mundhe’s plan was proper but some funds should be reserved for emergency works. “General body is decision making authority in the NMC so each and every work should be approved by general body which will be ensured in new system,” he said.
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IAN
* Civic chief presents budget by February 15 and standing committee chief by June
* NMC begins works from April 1 as per budget of civic chief which is later replaced by that of standing committee
* Budget mentions names and cost of only big projects and not each work
* Budgetary provision is made for broad heads like roads, sewage, streetlights, water, health etc
* Chairman in consultation with office bearers decides individual works, cost throughout the year
* It also involves lengthy administrative approval process
* MMC Act makes work-wise budget mandatory
The objectives are to take up priority works, bring in transparency, cut short administrative process, and match expenditure with income. The move is likely to put an end to discretionary powers of office bearers in distributing funds and allegations of opposition corporators about getting unfair treatment.
Except in 2006-07 and 2007-08, NMC has been listing only big projects in the budget and funds allocated for them in the budget. For the rest, general provisions were made without mentioning specific works. For example, budget allocates Rs 70 crore for tar road works but fails to mention which roads will be taken up. After approving the budget, general body empowers standing committee chairman to decide which roads will be repaired.
The departments have to seek a letter from chairman before preparing any proposal. They then put up proposal seeking administrative approval and complete tendering process and again seek approval for work order. At every step, civic chief’s approval is also required.
NMC sources told TOI, Mundhe asked the officials to prepare his budget mentioning all works. This has delayed the budget beyond Feb 15 deadlines in MMC Act.
BJP corporator Dayashankar Tiwari opposed the move saying NMC’s revenue was uncertain so works cannot be decided in advance. “Existing system enables NMC to propose works as per requirements and situation in prevailing conditions. NMC officials and engineers have no idea about problems at ground level so it is not possible to include all works in the budget itself. Civic chief has been given powers to revise budget in January as per estimated income. There is no need to revise existing system,” he said.
Congress corporator Sandip Sahare however said revision will ensure unbiased distribution of funds and priority to required works. “Also, works will be speeded up with more transparency. It will prevent overlapping of works, wastage of public money and unnecessary inflating the budget. The system should be implemented in distribution of funds for Backward Class head. Funds meant for Backward Class are being spent in unqualified areas by ruling party,” he said.
Independent corporator Abha Pande said existing system should continue. “Corporators will lose say in proposing works under new system. Officials are unaware of problems at ground level. If Mundhe wishes to revise the system, he should hold meetings with officials and corporators and prepare the list before budget,” she said.
Shiv Sena corporator Kishor Kumeriya said Mundhe’s plan was proper but some funds should be reserved for emergency works. “General body is decision making authority in the NMC so each and every work should be approved by general body which will be ensured in new system,” he said.
—————————
IAN
* Civic chief presents budget by February 15 and standing committee chief by June
* NMC begins works from April 1 as per budget of civic chief which is later replaced by that of standing committee
* Budget mentions names and cost of only big projects and not each work
* Budgetary provision is made for broad heads like roads, sewage, streetlights, water, health etc
* Chairman in consultation with office bearers decides individual works, cost throughout the year
* It also involves lengthy administrative approval process
* MMC Act makes work-wise budget mandatory
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