NEW DELHI: Delhi's three civic bodies are all set to present their
budget proposals this week. While
South Delhi Municipal Corporation's executive wing will deliver its budget proposal on Monday (December 7), North Delhi Municipal Corporation's budget proposal will be presented on Tuesday. The budget proposal for East Delhi Municipal Corporation will be presented on Wednesday.
Last year, initial budget expenditures varied between Rs 4,500 crore and 5,500 crore with annual increase of around 10%.
Senior civic officials say that the
coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the revenue generation from parking, toll tax and advertisement because of which many revisions will be carried out in the 2020-21 budget and a house tax hike should be expected. Many initiatives announced in the last year's budget like smog towers in each constituency, solar plants in Faridabad and Ghumanhera, and mechanical sweeping in inner colony roads, however, still remain on paper.
A senior north corporation official said that several plans announced last year were derailed due to the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. "We have not been able to expedite many revenue generating schemes. Entire department has been focused on fighting the pandemic on war footing," the official added.
The north corporation had announced that it would set up 26 smog towers to curb air pollution but nothing happened. It had also announced to set up e-rickshaw charging stations. Development of heritage circuit, administrative reforms like consolidated ward development fund and beautification of markets too remained just a promise.
In case of the south corporation, the projected expenditure estimates for 2019-20 were 5245.6 crore-an increase of 11% on previous year. Senior SDMC officials say that the magnitude of the annual increase will not be the same this year due to financial constraints. In its annual budgeting process, the commissioner first moves budget proposals, which is followed by several rounds of discussions and critiques. After passing through several stages, the budget is finally approved by the House.
The south corporation had last year announced solar parks in Faridabad and Ghumanhera and introduction of mechanical sweepers and suction machines.
"The increase in budget will not be like a normal year. Our revenue streams have reduced. Several rebates have also been provided to the contractors who invoked force majeure clauses for the lockdown period," said an SDMC official.
Drawn over several months, the corporation budget process has been often criticised for its length. Commissioner budgets have been pushing for house tax increase from last several years but the deliberative wings have always shot them down. However, the civic bodies have introduced several new taxes in the pandemic year.