Rs1908.36-crore NMMC budget tabled

Belapur: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's (NMMC) 'realistic' budget, totaling to Rs1900-crore, for the year 2014-15 emphasising on bringing in transparency in administration by fast tracking e-governance projects, was presented by municipal commissioner Abasaheb Jarhad before the standing committee on Friday. This happens to be Jarhad's first civic budget.
Moreover, with its decision not to hike property tax and the urban development department cutting LBT rates, common man has been spared of any additional burden. The administration expects revenue of Rs1908.36 crore and expenditure of around Rs1907.90 crore in the coming year. The revised budget for last year with Rs1536.26 crore income and Rs1461.22 crore as expenditure too was tabled before the standing committee.
The target for local body tax department and property tax department which have been the major revenue earners for the civic body have been scaled down as compared to last year. The target for LBT this time will be Rs711 crore as against Rs855 crore last time, while that of property tax has been brought down by Rs5 crore to Rs480 crore. NMMC expects revenue of Rs98.71 crore from water bills, Rs130 crore from development fees for town planning, Rs34.78 crore through sale of Morbe water.

Infra projects for city

Major infrastructure development works which have been given priority include concretisation of major roads in Navi Mumbai to tackle menace of potholes during rains, integrated development plan for sector-15 in Belapur which includes taking up of road works and beautification of area near the creek and similar development of every sector in the satellite city. Integrated storm water management system works to be taken up in the city with central and state funds.
Amusement Park at Savligaon in Airoli assembly segment and beautification of water body and adjoining area along the Palm Beach Road through MLA funds of Rs20 crore. The area below MSEDC cables to be developed as Green Corridor and making provision for jogging track and parking there.
New fire stations have been planned at Vashi, Koparkhairane and Belapur. Considering the rise in solid waste in city, the civic body proposes to increase the capacity of Turbhe dumping ground by 250 metric tonne. To solve the debris menace a debris processing centre has been planned so that waste can be recycled. Theme parks have been planned in city.

New fish markets
The civic body plans to develop 11 new fish markets and redevelop the 3 markets from the funds that will be made available by National Fisheries Development Board.

Electric department
The civic body plans to start the solar power project at Morbe dam and also hydro electric power project at the dam site and has made an allotment of Rs150 crore for the same. It expects to earn an revenue of Rs35 crore and expects to recover the capital expenditure in 7-years and the civic body will be able to earn a revenue of Rs35-crore for next 18-years. NMMC will be erecting 75 high masts in major junctions of the city.

CCTV
Giving thrust to safety and security of citizens, NMMC will be installing 400 new CCTV in the city. At present there are 262 CCTV which are functional and a provision of Rs10 crore has been made for this.

e-governance
The civic budget has stressed on e-governance to bring in tranparency and will be fast tracking these projects. 18 modules are already operational under e-governance and the focus is to make offices paperless and at the same time offering convenience to people so that any of their work can happen online. For payment of taxes, the civic body will be installing kiosks at 50 different locations in the city.

24-hour water supply
Presently only 70 percent of the city receives 24-hour water supply and planning for providing round the clock water supply is currently in process. Installation of automatic meter reader (AMR) is being made mandatory to check misuse of water and it will also lead to revenue hike by 5-10%.

Solid Waste Management
Rs29.50 crore has been allocated for collection and transportation of garbage and Rs2.90 crore has been earmarked for installing garbage bins in MIDC area. A special cell has been planned under the deputy municipal commissioner's authority to look into the cleaning and housekeeping work at civic offices and buildings.

Night shelters and transit camps
An allotment of Rs 5 crore each has been made for night shelters and transit camps in this budget. Plots for construction of this have been transferred to NMMC.

Fire brigade
Rs 6 crore have been allotted for constructing fire station at Koparkhairane, NMMC plans to induct x-type fire engine for its Nerul station, mini fire engine and a advance rescue vehicle. Fire personnel will be given individual protective equipment and latest rescue equipment. Considering the incidents of building collapse latest rescue tenders too will be inducted in the fire brigade.

Health
Floating Advance Casualty Complex (FACC) ambulances to be stationed on Palm Beach Road to start operations from this year. This vehicles will be providing emergency aid to accident victims.
Computerisation of civic hospitals, primary health centre at Kukshet, animal hospital to come up in Sanpada sector 24, blood bank planned at Airoli hospital and blood collection centre at sector-15 in Nerul. CT scan and MRI scan services to be provided to common man at cheap rates in civic hospitals, dialysis facility at Nerul and Airoli hospital.