SDMC budget proposes only e-payment of tax from FY 2017-18

BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation today proposed making payment of property tax online only from next financial year, a move in line with the Centre's e-governance and 'digital India' model.
South Delhi Municipal Commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel said this while presenting the SDMC's revised budget estimates for 2016-17 and budget estimates for the year 2017-18 at the Civic Centre here.
"After Prime Minister's announcement on demonetisation, stress has been laid on making payments online. In his 'Mann ki Baat', he spoke about a 'cashless society' and advised moving towards 'e-wallet'.
"So, in line with that, from next financial year, it is proposed that all property tax-related forms and payment would be accepted online only and payment in cash will not be accepted," Goel said in the budget speech.

The proposed revised budget estimates for financial year 2016-17 stands at Rs 3,796.33 crore while the budget estimates for 2017-18 has been proposed to be Rs 4,104.13 crore for total revenues.
For total expenditure, the proposed revised budget estimates for financial year 2016-17 stands at Rs 4,046.77 crore while the budget estimates for 2017-18 has been proposed to be Rs 4,515.92 crore.

"For paying the property tax, apps and e-wallets shall provide the service accordingly. All these apps would be connected to the corporation's Property Tax Department's online services.
"Those tax payers, who do not have the facility to submit PTR from online, shall be facilitated through a special window that would be opened in each of our zones. Special camps would also be organised in all wards," he added.

Among other major decisions, the budget has also proposed a 1 per cent increase in property tax for residential properties under categories C, D and E and 2 per cent in residential properties under categories A and B; and 5 per cent increase for certain commercial properties under categories A to H, viz., guest houses, inns, lodges, PG houses, restaurants without bars or AC, liquor shops and bars.
In sanitation area, 2000 more dustbins are being purchased and at least 100 toilets are to be constructed at important places having substantial footfall during the next financial year, it said.
A waste-to-energy plant at Badarpur and a construction and demolition waste processing plant at Badarpur and Tajpur Pahari have also been proposed.

Other proposals include 21 new upgraded health centres with all medical facilities, setting up of a specialised unit at Purnima Sethi Multi Specialty Hospital in Kalkaji in collaboration with Safdarjung Hospital. Construction of 100-bedded hospital in Tilak Nagar, Fatah Pur Beri, Dwarka is underway.
As per the budget, a new software application shall be
introduced which will include previous dues and interest, if any payable, at the time of calculation of property tax and facilitate taxpayers in depositing their dues and see details of their properties with a click of button.
The SDMC said that for financial year 2015-16, the property tax target of Rs 650 crore was achieved. For 2016-17 and 2017-18, revised budget estimates of Rs 775 crore and Rs 742.50 crore have been proposed.

"1.98 lakh conventional street lights have been replaced with energy efficient LED lights resulting in total saving of Rs 425 crore during the entire contract period.
Besides, construction of an indoor stadium at Janakpuri is proposed, according to the budget.
In education sector, the budget has proposed introduction of SQEP (School Quality Enhancement Programme) in 25 schools in 2017-18.
The SDMC has already established science clubs in 100 schools, 25 in each zone, and by next financial year, it is proposed to be set up in all schools.
Besides, 160 more schools are to get CCTV cameras by the end of this financial year, and by 2017-18 in all schools. Surveillance cameras were installed in 20 schools last fiscal and 40 more have been done this year.

Introduction of green and white boards, and audio-visual system in classrooms of all schools, multimedia library in Shekh Sarai and English media sections in nursery classes are among the other proposals.
121 open gyms have been installed and 400 more are to be set up during the current financial year, the SDMC said.