Violence rocked the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) for the second day in a row, as a mukadam, Chand Dheermalani, of the anti-encroachment department was beaten up inside the corporation premises by Republican Party of India (RPI) workers. The workers have been on a dharna outside the civic corporation office since February 8 to protest the demolition of an illegal structure at Subhash Nagar which housed their office.

At around 2.30 in the afternoona mob of around 20 RPI activists marched into the anti-encroachment department shouting slogans. Wisened by the attack by Shiv Sainiks, who had attacked DMC B D Vanmali on February 9, Vanmali and assistant controller of encroachments Ram Singhani fled the office, said sources. Dheermalani was, however, caught unawares. After toppling cupboards, breaking furniture and flinging water jugs, glasses and crockery around, the mob beat up Dheermalani. He was treated for his injuries and later discharged.

Shaken staffmenbers expressed surprise that mobs could go on a rampage despite the presence of security staff.

KDMC budget presented

The Commissioner of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), G T Bandri, presented the civic budget for the year 1999-2000 to the standing committee on Wednesday. The Rs 179.90-crore budget which proposes to hike water tax to two and half times its present rates and octroi rates to one and half times shows an opening balance of Rs 5 lakh only.

Considering the actual octroi collections till November the target has been revised from Rs 89 crore (1998-99 target) to Rs 58 crore, informed Bandri adding, "The rates will have to be increased since money will be needed for computerisation and provision of cash incentives to citizens and civic employees who help nab octroi evaders." Hence the budget has set a target of Rs 75 crore by way of octroi collection. The property tax is expected to generate Rs 32 crore which may go up by nearly Rs 6 crore this year.The KDMC will bespending Rs 35.91 crore on the maintenance of the water supply plants and Rs 5 crore toward the completion of the 90 MLD project. A further Rs 2 crore has been allocated for the new water supply scheme. For the residents who have had to live through two epidemics of jaundice and gastro this year the news that the KDMC will spend Rs 1.77 crore on sanitation and hygiene.