The Times of India 22.04.2013
Purnia civic body likely to increase holding tax
PURNIA: The Purnia Municipal Corporation (PMC) has, after dithering for days due to internal wrangling, adopted a deficit budget of Rs 38.10 lakh for the fiscal year 2013-14 early this week.
The PMC targets to mobilise a revenue of Rs 19.46 crore during the current financial year, besides carrying forward a surplus of Rs 12.68 crore from the previous 2012-13, while it intends to spend Rs 32.52 crore during the year 2013-14. The previous year carry forward amount of Rs 12.68 crore is inclusive of the government aid, PMC sources explained.
PMC Mayor Kaneej Raza on Sunday said that once the management and control of the bus terminal near the Collectorate, which was currently managed and owned by the Zila Parishad (ZP), was shifted to the corporation, not only the corporation would augment basic amenities for the bus commuters, but its revenue would also increase. "As per the government stand, the bus terminal is the property of the municipal corporation, and ZP should give up its stake on it," she averred. The bus terminal has deposited a sum of Rs 50 lakh into the ZP's coffer by way of its settlement for the year 2013-14.
Talking of the priorities before the corporation, the mayor said, "Door-to-door garbage and refuse collection plan was on the anvil to keep the town clean and hygienic. Besides, improving the non-functional sewage system and spreading the network of roads and by-lanes also figures prominently on its agenda."
Agreeing that random deposition of medical refuse near Line Bazar area, where a large number of private clinics and hospitals have mushroomed, poses serious health hazard, the Mayor revealed that health officials were working on a recycling scheme for the same.
The corporation also intended to shift the vegetable mart in the crowded Bhatta Bazaar to a much spacious site and create vendors' zones which would take care of the problems of acute congestion and snarls in the town, she said. Besides, a huge hike in the holding taxes which continues to be the principal source of its income, was on the cards. "The corporation will, however, strictly adhere to the guidelines formulated by the state urban development and housing department in this," Raza said.
The PMC targets to mobilise a revenue of Rs 19.46 crore during the current financial year, besides carrying forward a surplus of Rs 12.68 crore from the previous 2012-13, while it intends to spend Rs 32.52 crore during the year 2013-14. The previous year carry forward amount of Rs 12.68 crore is inclusive of the government aid, PMC sources explained.
PMC Mayor Kaneej Raza on Sunday said that once the management and control of the bus terminal near the Collectorate, which was currently managed and owned by the Zila Parishad (ZP), was shifted to the corporation, not only the corporation would augment basic amenities for the bus commuters, but its revenue would also increase. "As per the government stand, the bus terminal is the property of the municipal corporation, and ZP should give up its stake on it," she averred. The bus terminal has deposited a sum of Rs 50 lakh into the ZP's coffer by way of its settlement for the year 2013-14.
Talking of the priorities before the corporation, the mayor said, "Door-to-door garbage and refuse collection plan was on the anvil to keep the town clean and hygienic. Besides, improving the non-functional sewage system and spreading the network of roads and by-lanes also figures prominently on its agenda."
Agreeing that random deposition of medical refuse near Line Bazar area, where a large number of private clinics and hospitals have mushroomed, poses serious health hazard, the Mayor revealed that health officials were working on a recycling scheme for the same.
The corporation also intended to shift the vegetable mart in the crowded Bhatta Bazaar to a much spacious site and create vendors' zones which would take care of the problems of acute congestion and snarls in the town, she said. Besides, a huge hike in the holding taxes which continues to be the principal source of its income, was on the cards. "The corporation will, however, strictly adhere to the guidelines formulated by the state urban development and housing department in this," Raza said.
