AMC sadan meet: Corporators demand more fund allocation

Allahabad: The budget of Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) for 2016-17 was tabled during the sadan meeting on Sunday. Corporators expressed concern over the consistent cut in fund allocation to the Corporation from the state finance commission.
Raising the issue, corporator Raju Shukla said, "While Rs 13.5 crore was allocated to AMC by state finance commission in 2014-15, the civic body was allocated only Rs 8 crore in 2016-17.This would seriously impair the development work in the city."
Resolution about bringing an end to the consistent cut in the fund allocation made to AMC was passed in the House.
Participating in the discussion, corporator Athar Raza Ladley said, "There are many private educational institutions running engineering, law and other professional courses. They charge hefty sum from students in the form of fees. Such educational institutions should also be brought under the purview of commercial house tax, which are currently being exempted from paying tax. This will increase the income of AMC." He also suggested imposition of local taxes on commercial vehicles plying on city roads.
Senior corporator Shiv Sewak Singh said that it was for the first time in the history of AMC that budget had been tabled in the sadan meeting without seeking approval of executive council of the house. It is also the violation of the provisions of State Urban Municipal Corporation Act of 1969.
Tempers flared up when corporator Satyendra Chopra alleged that officers of AMC were involved in corruption and resorted to unethical ways. He also questioned as to why the audit report was not being tabled in the executive council meeting as it contains the details regarding the corrupt ways officials are resorting to.
The projected income of AMC for the financial year 2016-17 has been estimated to about Rs 5,02,12,10,000 while the projected expenditure has estimated to be about Rs 5,02,11,57,126.
Later, discussion on house tax also took place, in which tax assessment officer PK Mishra gave detailed overview of house tax. He informed that house tax income from residential houses in the year 2015-16 was about Rs.38 crore while it was about Rs.33 crore during 2014-15.