NAGPUR: Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B will present the draft budget for the 2021-22 financial year and revised budget for the current fiscal 2020-21 on March 17. He will present the budget before the special standing committee meeting to be held on Wednesday. Radhakrishnan is unlikely to propose any new hike or additional tax on citizens, said sources.
The then municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had projected Rs2,547 crore as Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC)’s income for the current financial year, while former standing committee chairman Vijay Zalke had revised the budget and projected the NMC’s revenue for the year as Rs2,731 crore.
Sources said Radhakrishnan may further reduce Mundhe’s projection of Rs 2,547 crore by Rs100 crore for the current fiscal. “He may propose the budget for the next financial year by projecting Rs2,600 crore-plus income,” sources said.
The Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected NMC’s revenue. It has hindered the NMC from undertaking any development works, which has fuelled resentment between elected representatives and civic administration.
Radhakrishnan has already slashed the allocation in the civic body’s budget under five heads, including roads and ward work funds, by half. Against the sanctioned amount of Rs127.52 crore, the civic chief allocated Rs63.76 crore.
Sources said Radhakrishnan’s budget may focus more on strengthening health infrastructure. After the civic chief’s budget, standing committee chairman Prakash Bhoyar will present his budget by reportedly increasing the revenue of the civic body before mid-June.
As the city moves into election year in 2022, the budget is not likely to see any hike in property taxes or water tax.