GHMC Committee Okays Rs. 3,800 Cr Budget

The standing committee of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation on Thursday approved the corporation's Rs. 3,800 crore budget for the financial year 2013-14.

Addressing a press conference after the standing committee's meeting at the GHMC headquarters at Tank Bund, GHMC Mayor Mohammad Majid Hussain and Commissioner M T Krishna Babu said that the budget for 2013-14 was earlier Rs. 3,800 crore, but that the revised budget will be Rs. 2,664 crore. They said that the budget would be presented before the GHMC's general body for final approval.

The GHMC has allocated Rs. 813 crore towards the Greater Hyderabad Development Project. The corporation also proposed to spend Rs. 100 crore on the construction of storm water drains in its limits, while 60% of the spending would be done within Hyderabad.

In addition to Rs. 25 crore for water supply and Rs. 15 crore for sewerage, the GHMC will spend Rs. 30 crore towards a "Summer Water Action Plan". The Commissioner said that although drinking water supply does not fall under the purview of the GHMC, funds have been allocated in view of problems being faced by the people in the GHMC limits.

The GHMC has also sanctioned Rs. 10 crore to prevent dengue and malaria, Rs. 5 crore for the Musi river project, Rs. 5 crore for rain-water harvesting, and Rs. 5 crore for the protection of heritage buildings.

The Commissioner also said that that a target of Rs. 950 crore has been fixed towards property tax for 2013-14. This would include collection from private and government properties, he said. A special drive would also be launched to collect arrears of Rs. 700 crore property tax, and GHMC teams will be authorised to seize properties if required, he added. (INN)