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'North Corpn has not spent single penny on cleanliness'

Last Updated 03 January 2015, 01:50 IST

For the first six months in this financial year – from April to Sepetmber 2014 – the North Corporation has not spent a single penny on public toilets and removal of construction debris, said Leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel in North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s House meeting on Friday.

“Not only this, the civic agency didn’t spend any money from the discretionary the funds on 68 heads of the total 123 heads under it in 2013-14 although provisions of ample amounts were made under them,” Goel said while initiating the discussion on Budget 2015-16.

“Moreover, no amount was spent on development work in urbanised villages and wards and maintenance of roads,” he added. “Also, there is no estimate of the amount spent on sanitation in the first two months of the Swachh Bharat Mission started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 2,” said Goel.

The discretionary funds can be used by senior functionaries like mayor, chairman of standing committee and chairmen of special committees like education, sanitation and garden.

Goel rejected all new proposed taxes and hike in property tax. “All proposed taxes like charges on organising functions in farm houses, congestion tax, hike in parking and property tax will increase the financial burden of the citizens, already coping with high inflation. Therefore, it is a request to the ruling party to not accept these proposals,” he said.

“Similarly, proposal to increase the registration fees of dogs, buffalo, cycle rickshaw is anti-poor,” he added.

The Leader of Opposition said that removal of tax on vehicles being driven by animals was a welcome step. “Also, reduction of registration fees on cows from Rs 50 to 30 will also reduce financial burden on people,” he added.

Goel added that many proposals related to tehbazari, cycles rickshaw and mobile towers announced in previous Budget remain only on paper. “Tehbazari should be allotted to vendors who illegally occupy the space in weekly bazaars to increase the revenue and save them from harassment at the hands of corrupt police and municipal officials,” he said.

The collection of property tax of about Rs 269.61 crore during 2013-14 financial year as against the estimated amount of Rs 450 crore is disappointing, Goel added.

“There are about 10 lakh properties under the limits of the North Corporation but only 3.77 lakh of them are paying property tax. The property tax is being collected from only 35 per cent properties,” said the Leader of Opposition.

“No stern action has been taken against these defaulters as well as government agencies like DDA, DMRC and TPDDL who have not paid their property tax,” he added.

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(Published 03 January 2015, 01:50 IST)

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