Unlike the past two years, the budget of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation for 2013-14 is expected to cross the mark of Rs 1,000 crore.
In the past two years, the civic body witnessed an acute shortage of funds and a dip in overall budget was visible. While Rs 841 crore were sanctioned for 2011-12 budget, the amount went down for 2012-13 with Rs 741 crore getting approval of the state government.
However, with various revenue collecting methods adopted by the MC this year like property tax, development tax, TS 1 certificate, various property auctions, sewerage and water connection regularisation, and recovery of house tax, the civic body this year is in a slightly better position and aiming at Rs 1,000 crore budget. “We are targeting Rs 1,000 crore budget. Hopefully, it will be done,” said MC commissioner R K Verma.
Similarly, Mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said, “The upcoming budget for 2013-14 will be around Rs 1,000 crore. Details are yet to be furnished.”
When joined back seven months ago, the MC commissioner had the daunting task of reducing the MC’s liabilities which ran into a whopping Rs 320 crore approximately which will be a major factor in deciding the final amount of this year’s budget.