BMC spends 82 per cent funds on development

Mumbai: All major civic departments like water supply, sewage, roads, health, storm water drains have seen a substantial rise in their expenditure as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has managed to spend 82.68 per cent of its budgetary founds during the year 2017-18. While it is 31 per cent more as compared to last year, it is also the highest spending on civic development works in last 10 years.

According to civic officials, the BMC, in 2017-18, had made a provision of Rs 6,111 crore as a capital expenditure, which is spent on various development and infrastructure projects. Of it, the civic body managed to spend Rs 5,052 crore by the end of the financial year. It include various works like roads, storm water drains, water supply and sewage, development plan, public health, hospitals, gardens, markets etc.

“This has happened due to the concept of realistic budget, which was implemented since the year 2017-18. Instead of inflating the budgetary figures, it was decided that the funds will be used judiciously on development works. For this, an action plan was drafted and a periodic review was taken to ensure its proper implementation,” said a senior civic official.

During the year 2016-17, the BMC had provided capital expenditure of Rs 5,399 crore in the amended budget. Of it, only Rs 3,850 crore were spent, which comes to 71.31 per cent. For the Mumbai Sewage Disposal Project (MSDP), the BMC spent Rs Rs 249.60 crore (105.29 percent) as against the capital provision of Rs  237.06 crore in the amended budget. In the year 2016-17, the expenditure figure was only 24.44 percent.

In water supply department, Rs 121.43 crore (98.60 per cent) out of Rs 123.15 crore were spent, which was more than last year's percentage of 94.49. In hydraulic, sewage operations and roads departments, the BMC managed to spend 91.82 per cent, 92.57 per cent and 91.33 per  cent  respectively.