THANE: The slowdown in economy seems to have impacted Thane Municipal Corporation’s revenue sources as the administration has not just scaled down its budget outlay for 2020-21 by Rs 81 crore, but also proposed to burden taxpayers with a hike in water consumption charges and didn’t announce any big-ticket infrastructure projects.
On Wednesday, acting Thane municipal commissioner Rajendra Ahiwar presented a Rs 3,780-crore budget outlay for 2020-21. TMC’s 2019-20 budget was Rs 3,861 crore. Later, it was revised to Rs 3,110 crore.
Ahiwar, while addressing the standing committee during his budget presentation, justified the around 50% hike in water consumption charges saying it will help ease the financial strain on the administration from rising operational and maintenance costs while supplying 495 million litres of water to its 22 lakh consumers daily. The hike, if approved, would add Rs 225 crore to the earnings of the department.
“We have proposed a hike of Rs 100 a month for flats measuring up to 250 sq ft. And for flats measuring 3,000 sq ft and above, water charges may be increased to Rs 750 a month from Rs 500, and old chawls and slums will be charged Rs 200 per family,” Ahiwar said. “Consumers with water meters will be charged based on telescopic charges which will be dependent on the consumption, while commercial units will also face the brunt of the hike.”
While the budget focused mainly on developing previously announced infrastructure projects in Thane, including the light rail transport system, internal water transport and strengthening road network, several crucial projects like cluster redevelopment—which is considered the dream project of the ruling Shiv Sena—and the pod cars were ignored. “The economic slowdown in the market has affected the realty industry and also commercial units, directly impacting the targets of the town development office and the property tax. We have focused more on allocating funds for completing the existing projects instead of announcing any new works,” Ahiwar said. As part of sops to developers, the budget proposes to shave off 50% charges for seeking NOC from the fire brigade, which is likely to impact the department’s revenue.
On Wednesday, acting Thane municipal commissioner Rajendra Ahiwar presented a Rs 3,780-crore budget outlay for 2020-21. TMC’s 2019-20 budget was Rs 3,861 crore. Later, it was revised to Rs 3,110 crore.
Ahiwar, while addressing the standing committee during his budget presentation, justified the around 50% hike in water consumption charges saying it will help ease the financial strain on the administration from rising operational and maintenance costs while supplying 495 million litres of water to its 22 lakh consumers daily. The hike, if approved, would add Rs 225 crore to the earnings of the department.
“We have proposed a hike of Rs 100 a month for flats measuring up to 250 sq ft. And for flats measuring 3,000 sq ft and above, water charges may be increased to Rs 750 a month from Rs 500, and old chawls and slums will be charged Rs 200 per family,” Ahiwar said. “Consumers with water meters will be charged based on telescopic charges which will be dependent on the consumption, while commercial units will also face the brunt of the hike.”
While the budget focused mainly on developing previously announced infrastructure projects in Thane, including the light rail transport system, internal water transport and strengthening road network, several crucial projects like cluster redevelopment—which is considered the dream project of the ruling Shiv Sena—and the pod cars were ignored. “The economic slowdown in the market has affected the realty industry and also commercial units, directly impacting the targets of the town development office and the property tax. We have focused more on allocating funds for completing the existing projects instead of announcing any new works,” Ahiwar said. As part of sops to developers, the budget proposes to shave off 50% charges for seeking NOC from the fire brigade, which is likely to impact the department’s revenue.
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