From: b sabha <bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com>
http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=BMC-has-used-only-25-budget-so-far-31012016005055 BMC has used only 25% budget so far <http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=BMC-has-used-only-25-budget-so-far-31012016005055> epaperbeta.timesofindia.com The Times Of India daily ePaper - Watch digital ePaper of India from around the world. Jan 31 2016 : The Times of India (Mumbai) BMC has used only 25% budget so far Richa Pinto Mumbai: ? ? `Sena-BJP Bickering Responsible' Even as the country's richest civic body is set to announce its budget this week, it has come to light that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has spent only 25.49% of its capital expenditures so far. The civic administration, however, claimed that a huge chunk is expected to be spent in the months to come. A close look through the capital expenditure sheet shows that the BMC's health department spent a mere 7.23%. As for other departments, the fire brigade has spent 18.12% of its budget while the stormwater drains department has spent 21.12%. Among the departments where the least spending has happened include development plan department where 2.52% has been spent, transport department where 4.22% has been spent and the assessor & collector department where 2.90% has been spent. While the entire civic budget for 2015-16 is of Rs 33,514 crore, it comprises capital expenditures amounting to Rs 11,823 crore. Of this, BMC has spent only Rs 3,014 crore (about 25.49%) till January 28. Leader of the Opposition party in the BMC, De vendra Amberkar, slammed the BMC for not being able to spend a substantial portion of its budget yet. "Every year, the BMC fails to spend a chunk of its budget and yet, it does not try to improve its performance the following year. It continues to spend a small amount of the budget with large amounts remaining unspent." Amberkar added that year after year, the civic body collects taxes from citizens but is unable to deliver services which it promises. "Right from stormwater drains to water supply, citizens are left to complain about everything," he said. Meanwhile Samajwadi party leader in the civic House, Rais Shaikh, said that the differences between the Shiv Sena and BJP and the bickering between the parties is one of the major reasons for the budget remaining unspent. "The ruling alliance parties are against each other, causing major projects to be held up. Apart from this, the numerous enquires regarding road and drains in the city is another reason that has lead to such little expenditure taking place," said Shaikh. In the last year, two enquires were initiated against a road scam and nallah desilting scam. Asenior official from the finance department said that most tenders for works are called after October, leaving to funds lying unspent. [http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/NasData//PUBLICATIONS/THETIMESOFINDIA/MUMBAI/2016/01/31/Photographs/005/31_01_2016_005_055_009.jpg]<http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com//Article.aspx?eid=31804&articlexml=BMC-has-used-only-25-budget-so-far-31012016005055#>
