Poll-season sop from BJP: No new corporation taxes

Chairman of the standing committee of the North corporation, Mohan Bhardwaj, said the focus of the next budget would be on development.

“Focus is on development which is beyond roads and buildings. Other areas of focus are cleanliness, management of natural resources, solar energy-based projects and water harvesting,” he said.

Additionally, more toilets and bathrooms for women will be constructed in the North Delhi area. After taking suggestions from councillors, the corporations have decided to convert some of its vacant properties into markets or parks for Delhi residents.

Elaborating on this, Bhardwaj said the corporations own the highest number of properties in Delhi  after the Delhi Development Authority. As such, if a property is lying vacant, it can be used for the benefit of the people.

The standing committee also refused an increase in the number or amount of old-age pensions. Currently, there is a lag of over 10 months in the disbursal of the corporation’s pensions.

The corporation is also in the process of digitising its property tax records and has outsourced the work to a private agency.

Civic officials believe that only 35 per cent of its residents are, at present, furnishing property tax.

With the new system likely to be in place in a month, the corporation hopes to catch the defaulters and help increase civic body’s revenue.

Civic bodies to get Rs 500 cr for cleanliness

The three municipal corporation of Delhi are set to receive Rs 500 crore in funds for carrying out activities under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the next financial year.

With the onus of the cleanliness campaign on them, the civic bodies wrote to the Centre seeking more funds to implement the scheme properly. Standing committee chairman of the North corporation, Mohan Bhardwaj, said while the it was up to MCDs to carry out a scheme of such massive dimension, this could not be done without strengthening the body.

After a meeting with Urban Development minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday, the corporations have been assured of Rs 500 crore, subject to immediate release.  ENS