DHARWAD
Upgrading infrastructure in twin cities will be the top priority for the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation during 2023-2024. A sum of Rs 703 crore has been earmarked for the purpose.
HDMC Finance Committee Chairman Shivu Menasinakai revealed this while presenting the annual budget for 2023-2024 at the general body meeting.
He presented a Rs 1,138 crore budget that has a surplus of Rs 8 lakh. This is for the first time the HDMC’s budget has crossed the 1,000 crore mark and this is also the first time in the 60 year-history of HDMC, that the budget was presented at Dharwad. The budget envisages a receipt of Rs 1,138.54 crore, while the expenses are Rs 1,138.46 crore.
Shivu described the budget as complementary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream of making the country Atmanirbhar. He said the Central Government has granted Rs 4,000 crore to the twin cities for the establishment of IIT, IIIT, international airport, world’s longest railway platform and the main road to Siddaroodh Mutt among others, and HDMC will take up works that compliment the Centre’s efforts.
Explaining the measures taken to upgrade the infrastructure, Shivu said during 2022-2023 Rs 66 crore has been spent on providing underground drainage facility and road repair. New web and mobile based software will be installed to enable people to know their property tax details sitting at home and make payments via their smartphones.
The property tax collection which was Rs 84.8 crore in 2020-2021 has gone up to Rs 105 crore in 2021-2022 and during 2022-2023, the collection will reach Rs 120 crore which is an increase by 17 per cent.
