The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has failed to utilise even 50% of its 2014-15 budget.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has failed to utilise even 50% of its 2014-15 budget.
While the budget for 2015-16 will be presented on Wednesday, it has come to light that only 30% of the funds has so far been spent by the civic body till January 26 this year. This means that a huge amount of money from different departments of the BMC will lapse.
In the last financial year, BMC had allocated Rs 9,606.21 crore for infrastructure and civic amenities. Of this, only Rs 3,051.48 crore has been spent, according to BMC data.
Similarly, of the Rs 2,309 crore allocated for roads and traffic departments, Rs 1,026 crore have been utilised, while the water supply and sewerage department has spent Rs 728 crore of the Rs 1,498 crore allocated.
The garden department has spent only 12% of its budget, while the fire brigade has spent 15%, the markets department 10%, IT department 11% , solid waste management department 14% and health department 17%.
Opposition leader Devendra Amberkar said, “Every year, crores of rupees are left unused. As a result, several projects are affected. This year, too, the BMC has not done anything about it."
A major portion of the funds will be utilised before March-end, sources said. However, they admitted that even then, they would not be able to utilise all funds.
A few of them blamed the delay on elections. “Owing to the code of conduct before Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, we couldn't spend on many projects. We hope to spend maximum funds by March," sources said.
Some projects of the previous year which are yet to take off:
1. Construction of 10 mini fire stations
2. Flyovers below gardens
3. Save water campaign and panel for rain water harvesting yet to be formed.
4. Road bottleneck policy
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