The Times of India       30.12.2014 

PCMC spends 78% of revenue earned, development works to speed up

PUNE: The progress of development works in Pimpri Chinchwad has been slow in the first nine months of the financial year, but it is likely to pick up momentum by March, say civic officials.

Of the Rs 1,130.66 crore earned till December, the PCMC was able to spend Rs 888.14 crore (roughly 78%). The sources of revenue were the Local Body Tax (Rs 732.07 crore), property tax (Rs 185.54 crore), capital income (Rs 15.91 crore), building permission (Rs 138.04 crore), water tax and others (Rs 15.79 crore).

The expenditure target of the engineering department, which carries out development works, was revised to Rs 605.38 crore. However, it was able to spend Rs 202.52 crore only. Similarly, the electrical and water supply departments were not able to carry out the planned expenditures. The total revenue expenditure till December was Rs 590.03 crore. The PMPML fund and water supply fund have been allotted Rs 52 crore and Rs 1.06 crore respectively.

Pramod Bhosale, chief accounts officer, PCMC, said, ''There were two election code of conducts in this financial year so we could not invite bids for carrying out development works or allot work orders. The work orders will be issued in the coming few months."

Leader of opposition Vinod Nadhe said, "Most of the bids approved were 40% to 45% below the estimated cost prepared by the civic administration. So the quality of works is bound to suffer. Besides, meetings of the all-important standing committee are adjourned frequently, which delays the work further. The ward-level works as well as big development works are either pending or moving at a slow pace."