EDMC proposes property tax cuts

New Delhi: Despite facing severe financial crisis and in wake of the forthcoming municipal elections, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) in its budget presentation on Monday proposed exemption of property tax to residential properties up to 41.81 square metre and reduction of conversion charges from Rs 192 to Rs 100 per square metre. It also proposed centres in municipal schools to teach the illiterate parents of students.

The budget proposed by the standing committee chairman, Jitender Chaudhary, will be discussed and finalised by EDMC’s ‘House’ with amendments before February 14. On December 8, EDMC commissioner has presented a deficit budget of Rs 2,243 crore, which is likely to be increased with new sops if finalised by the House. Mr Chaudhary alleged that due to non-cooperation of Delhi government, EDMC has been facing financial crisis which is affecting the development work.

“About Rs 5000 crore is pending towards EDMC by Delhi government as per the recommendations of third and fourth Delhi Finance Commission. Despite the shortage of funds, EDMC has tried to make optimal use of its limited resources to provide best possible civic services to the citizens,” said Mr Chaudhary.

“I proposed that residential properties up to 41.81 square metres be exempted from property tax as they belong mostly to poor people. I also proposed reduction of conversion charges from Rs 192 per square metre to Rs 100 per square metre and reduction of penalty from 10 times to three times. The service of property mutation would be made available online from next year,” Mr Chaudhuary added.

He proposed opening of two diagnostic centres and the development of health check-up kit. “Collection centres would be developed at each dispensary of the corporation. Heart check-up centres would be developed and health check-up kits made available at primary health centres and polyclinics of the corporation for diagnosis of heart-related diseases,” said the standing committee chairman.  

Easing the sanction of building plan, Mr Chaudhary said that development of property over an area between 106 square metres and 500 square metres would not require building sanction plan from the corporation. “Property owners can get the building plan passed from their architect and intimate the corporation,” he stated.

Among other proposals, Mr Chaudhary proposed installation of CCTV cameras in all EDMC primary schools, opening of two more citizen service bureau in Khichripur and Karawal, an English medium school in each of the 64 municipal wards, and teaching centres in municipal schools to teach illiterate wards of students.

“To develop the students’ interest in science stream, science clubs would be developed in municipal primary schools. A web application would be introduced for students of municipal schools which would comprise all details of the students. The civic body would recruit yoga teachers in its schools for developing mental and physical health of students and life insurance of children in municipal schools has been doubled from Rs 50,000 per student to Rs one lakh,” he said.  

On sanitation front, Mr Chaudhary announced that an application would be introduced that would include details of all dhalaos and auto-tippers. At least one toilet block exclusively for women and the differently-abled would be developed in each ward.

“Mobile toilet would be run in East Delhi to make the area free from open defecation and to improve sanitation,” he added.