JOIN USMCC purse bulges this fiscal
Chairperson of Taxation, Finance and Appeals standing committee of Mysore City Corporation (MCC) M C Rajeshwari on Thursday presented a surplus budget of Rs 427.52 crore for the year 2012-13.
Rajeshwari, who is also the first woman in the current council to table the budget, was happy to announce that the size of the budget will become bigger with the civic body receiving grants of Rs 29.53 crore from the urban development department, taking the total budget estimate to Rs 457.05 crore. The expenditure is estimated at Rs 423.15 crore.
It is expected to generate revenue in the form of tax at Rs 77,54 lakh. In the previous year, tax up to Rs 48,39.11 lakh was collected against the estimated Rs 70,88 lakh. It is estimated to collect UGD cess of Rs 2,000 lakh and Rs 5,000 lakh water cess.
The revised trade license fee will bring in a revenue of Rs 305 lakh and Rs 824 lakh from other fees and licences.
What’s new among the proposals are: infrastructure cess on vehicles registered within the limits of the city corporation, according to Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976 (Rule 73).
This follows a recent order from the state government. Accordingly, the MCC has to collect the cess in association with the transport department. It is aimed at collecting Rs 158 lakh this fiscal.
Secondly, the most awaited solar city project is set to take wings with the MCC making a start from its main office itself. Solar lamps will be installed at the main office of the MCC, followed by zonal offices and Cheluvamba and Kuppanna parks at an estimated cost of Rs 158.70 lakh.
For domestic sector too, there is a piece of good news for those who install solar water heaters.
They will be eligible for a subsidy of 10 per cent and five per cent discount in property tax, not exceeding Rs 500. A total of Rs 25 lakh has been set aside for the facility.
To encourage domestic manure treatment plants, a total of Rs 25 lakh has been earmarked.
In this programme, those who conserve manure in their house will be able to receive a financial aid of Rs 1,000, followed by Rs 50 lakh to celebrate ‘Palike Habba’ to commemorate 150th year of the local body in Mysore, establishing fish markets at the cost of Rs 506 lakh, insurance cover for newspaper distributors, autorickshaw drivers, daily wage labourers below poverty line and also other BPL families under 22.75 and 7.25 programmes, well-equipped additional slaughter house at a cost of Rs 40 lakh.
Widows in the age group of 18 to 35 years will also be benefited with plans to empower them to take up self-employment under various welfare programmes like SJSRY, 22.75, 7.25 and three per cent programmes.
Hostel for pourakarmikas’ children under 22.75 pc programme and mobile library for the benefit of students at slums at a cost of Rs 25 lakh are among other proposals.
The funds reserved for birth anniversary celebrations of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar has been hiked to Rs 15 lakh from the previous Rs five lakh.
What’s new?
* Solar city project; city corporation’s main office to be equipped with solar lamps as a beginning
* Vehicle cess to be levied on vehicles registered within corporation’s limits
* Financial aid for manure treatment plants at houses
* Festival to commemorate 150 years of local body
* Fish markets at Devaraja market, N R assembly constituency
* Health insurance cover for newspaper distributors from BPL families
* Employment for widows in the age group of 18 to 35