Standing Committee approves RMC budget after revision

Rajkot, Feb 4 (UNI) The Standing Committee of Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) today approved the budget after reducing the hike in various taxes, proposed by the Rajkot Municipal Corporation Commissioner Arti Kanwar.

A hike of Rs 20 crore was proposed for various taxes but, the Standing Committee gave approval to a hike of Rs seven crore only.

Briefing mediapersons here, Standing Committee Chairman Jaiman Upadhyay said that after reducing the hike to Rs seven crore for various taxes, the budget was approved unanimously.

Ms Kanwar had proposed to double water charges for residential as well as commercial connections while presenting the budget for financial year 2008-2009, however, the Standing Committee has approved the hike of Rs 20 per month instead of Rs 50 in residential connections, and hike of Rs 40 per month instead of Rs 100 for commercial connections, the Chairman said.

The water charges for residential connection is now Rs 70 per month while charges for commercial connection is Rs 140 per month for the financial year 2008-09.

The Commissioner had suggested to increase fire tax in all categories. The low-rise, high-rise and commercial units, current fire tax slab is 1.5 per cent of property tax and was proposed to be increased to 2.5 per cent, but the Standing Committee has given approval for only 0.5 per cent hike in fire tax of all categories The budget was approved with the mega development projects such as two fly overs, model roads and bus rapid transit system.

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