Mayor presents GHMC's Rs 3,800 Cr budget

Hyderabad, February 18 (INN): GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain on Monday presented the corporation's budget for the financial year 2013-14 with a total outlay of Rs 3,800 crore, including revenue expenditure of Rs 1,529 crore and capital expenditure of Rs 2,271 crore.

Addressing the GHMC council's special meeting, Majid Hussain said that the budget was poised to reflect the plans and priorities of GHMC for the ensuing year.

"Many projects, schemes, programmes and policies are being implemented by the GHMC for improvement and upgradation of civic amenities in the GHMC area.

Greater Hyderabad Development Programme and Slum-Free Hyderabad Project are two prestigious programmes/schemes being taken up in the 2012-13 financial year," he said.

Old City Development Package, Charminar Pedestrianisation Project and Musi Revitlisation Project and other projects under JNNURM would be continued as spill-over works, the Mayor said.

With Central Government funds under the 13th Finance Commission, plans are drawn up for infrastructure development for solid waste management, he said.

"Without increasing the tax rates at all, Property Tax collections are expected to go up substantially to Rs 750 crore next year, with 100 per cent verification of properties, that is by bringing all the un-assessed properties into the tax net and by unearthing under-assessment and change of use by property owners and through recovery of property tax dues from the defaulting property-owners," the Mayor said.

Majid Hussain informed that the property tax from the State Government properties and service charges on central government properties were poised to up substantially through proper assessment and collection.

The State Government has also been requested to make budgetary provision for GHMC in the State budget in respect of property tax on the State Government's properties in GHMC area, he said.

During the year 2013-14, an amount of Rs 770 crore is expected from the Assigned Revenues. Of this Rs 300 crore will come towards Profession Tax, Rs 60 from Motor Vehicle Tax compensation, Rs 360 crore Surcharge on Stamp Duty and Rs 42 crore from Entertainment Tax. The GHMC also aims to collect Rs 60 crore by way of D&O Trade License Fee by Public Health Department.

The collections from fees and user charges including advertisement from the Town Planning Department are estimated at Rs 797.75 crore mainly from building permit fees, building development charges, betterment charges, open space contribution, etc.,

Of the total budget revenue expenditure of Rs 1,529 crore, as much as Rs 752 crore are earmarked towards establishment expenses, Rs 657 crore towards operation and maintenance, Rs 51 crore towards Administrative expenses.

Under plan grants, the GHMC will get Rs 962.58 crore which would include Rs 195 crore under JNNURM, Rs 150 crore under MMTS Phase-II, Rs 375 crore under HMRP, Rs 135.81 crore from 13th Finance Commissioner grants and Rs 100 crore under Rajiv Awas Yojna.

The GHMC will spend Rs 246.42 crore under Greater Hyderabad Development Plan for the construction of flyovers, widening of roads and development of junctions.

Majid Hussain informed that an amount of Rs 2,271 crore has been allocated under capital expenditure including Rs 471.85 crore towards Land and Land improvement, Rs 100 core for Buildings, Bridges, Flyovers and Subways, Rs 87.60 crore for Roads and Pavements, Rs 431.20 crore for Storm Water Drains, Rs 180 crore for Water Supply, Rs 50 crore for Sewerage, Rs 44 crore for street lighting and Rs 664.65 crore for housing.

The GHMC has also allocated Rs 190 crore for MMTS Phase-II, Rs 577.50 crore for road-related infrastructure, Rs 15.50 crore for Sports promotion, Rs 60.85 crore for Green Hyderabad and Rs 985 crore for poverty alleviation programmes.