Nashik: Municipal commissioner Radhakrishna Game presented a draft budget of Rs1,894.50 crore to the standing committee on Friday with a spillover of Rs351 crore.In the budget, the target for the major thrust area of revenue generation which is property tax has been raised to Rs218 crore.For the first time, a new head — ward funds to the tune of Rs38.10 crore — has been introduced to empower ward committees to carry out work up to Rs5 lakh. This will eliminate the need for sending files for approval to the NMC. The total outlay for 2018-19 was Rs1,785.14 crore.“I have tried to draft the budget for balanced development of the city. Last year’s pending work will be carried forward this year. Major source of revenue for NMC is GST grant, property tax and town planning department. At present we are getting Rs72.83 crore per month that is Rs873.96 crore annually. This year, assuming an eight per cent rise, we expect the figure to reach Rs943.87 crore,” Game said.He added that the target for property tax recovery has been set at Rs218 crore and it would be achievable with tax from new properties found through survey, fine amount, last year’s recovery and this year’s tax. Target for water tax recovery has been set at Rs65.42 crore. For land acquisition a provision of Rs133.50 crore has been made.“As per rule, two per cent of the budget is allocated for corporators’ funds. Accordingly, Rs12 crore (Rs9.45 lakh for every corporator) has been allocated. This year we have added a new head that is ward development fund amounting to Rs38.10 crore,” Game said.Provision of Rs35 crore has been made to develop bus depots and other facilities for the city bus service. For education, Rs88 crore has been allocated which includes uniforms for all students, sanitary napkins for girls, school trips and computers.“For public works department (PWD) Rs305 crore has been allotted. This includes Rs155 crore for main and colony roads, Rs15 crore for renovation of crematoriums, Rs15 crore for bridges, Rs99 crore for playgrounds, Rs4.92 crore for model road, Rs3.92 crore for upgrading 11 jogging tracks, theatre at Nashik Road will be developed this year after issue of trees are resolved, theatres in Panchavati and Gangapur Road will be developed,” Game said.Trimbak Road to ABB Circle is being developed as model road and the civic chief is planning to continue it beyond ABB Circle in future.“Owing to this a big patch of road from Ashok Stambh to ABB Circle will become barrier-free. Under smart city scheme response to bicycles has been good. We want to encourage more bicycle users,” he said.Training centre for the disabled has also been proposed for Rs17 crore. It will be used for treatment of people with disabilities and for activities to bring them into the mainstream.A business centre will be developed for women at Panchavati at a cost of Rs10 crore. “We made a provision of Rs37crore for employees’ welfare and seventh pay commission. We will implement it after policy decision by the state government and NMC,” the civic chief said.After the draft budget was presented, standing committee chairperson Himgauri Aher-Adke said, “The budget has been approved with amendments as suggested by the members.”

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