Eyeing civic polls, NDMC woos voters with list of proposals

With an eye on the municipal polls, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation today proposed a slew of measures in its revised budget which includes regularisation of illegal constructions, opening of a medicity, and two English language laboratories in its zones.
Civic body elections are due early this year and all three BJP-led corporations are seeking to woo voters through all possible avenues.
As per the revised budget proposals for 2016-17 and budget estimates for 2017-18 presented by NDMC Standing Committee Chairman Pravesh Wahi in the House today, about 6000 daily wagers in different departments are also proposed to be regularised against the vacant positions.

"As per the provision of Master Plan 2021, illegal constructions upto February 8, 2007 and upto June 1, 2014 in rural area would be regularised by taking compounding fees as per the building byelaws. Revenue of Rs 200 crore is expected from this scheme," the budget proposal said.
Seeking to strengthen sanitation services, the NDMC also proposed that all regular safai karamcharis would be provided mobile phones along with connection, so that they can be contacted easily and directly, besides, life insurance for daily wagers.
"1,500 flats allotted to NDMC's safai karamcharis under Ambedkar Awas Yojna would be made freehold. Two toilet blocks for women and one for differently-abled would be developed in every ward," the NDMC said.

Seeking to reach out to its voter base, the civic body also proposed that residential properties upto 20 sqm be exempted from property tax as these properties largely belong to people from economically weaker background.

NDMC also said that with the UPIC (unique property identity cards) system, survey of 37 wards have been done and 2 lakh properties have been identified which did not pay property tax.
"NDMC would collect property tax from these properties and it is expected to earn Rs 250 crore in each next two financial years," it said.
Survey of 28 villages is being done to find out high-end properties. So far, 2711 such commercial properties have been identified. This is expected to earn Rs 50 crore to the corporation," it added.

All senior citizens with age above 100 would be exempted from property tax if property is registered with their name, the budget says.
"Arrangements would be made wherein at least four wedding
functions can be organised at Ramlila Ground on the lines of Ajmal Khan Park. It is expected to receive revenue of Rs 2 crore annually this way," the NDMC said.
Eight-storey parking with a capacity of 900 cars would be developed at Rajender Nagar near Karol Bagh Metro Station. The project would cost Rs 92.34 crore.
Two English language laboratory in each zone of the NDMC would be developed so that municipal students can become more competitive by learning to speak, write and read the language, the civic body said, adding, to develop interest of students in this stream, science clubs would be opened in municipal schools.

"A medicity would be developed in Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis (RBTB) on build- operate-transfer basis with a private partner.
"Maintenance of hospitals would be transferred to private sector in order to improve cleanliness and sanitation in hospitals, on the lines of Civic Centre," the NDMC panel chairman proposed.
"A modern eye centre is to be developed in the RBTB Institute which has a capacity to operate more than 400 persons in a week," he added.
Yoga teachers would be appointed in municipal schools, the NDMC said, adding, provision of Rs 70 crore has been made in the budget for the next financial year.

Efforts are being made to sterilise and vaccinate 1,000 dogs daily with the help of NGOs, private veterinary doctors and interns of various veterinary institutions at sterilisation centres and other vacant buildings of the corporation in various parts, it said.
The NDMC has also proposed that a flower park be developed in every ward which has more than 10 parks, and flowers developed in these parks would be sold in open market.
"Also, parks of more than 2 acres area in size would be developed and maintained with the cooperation of private partner which would be handed over the right to grow and sell plants in nursery," it said.

The civic body has also proposed to set up Ayurvedic Diabetes test centre in every ward and Rs 730 lakh have been earmarked for this purpose.