As the proposed budget has not been implemented yet, many civic works have been stalled as they do not have enough funds to proceed with the work.
The Thane Municipal Corporation's (TMC) delay in releasing the proposed budget for 2015-16 has affected many development and civic works across the city.
As the proposed budget has not been implemented yet, many civic works have been stalled as they do not have enough funds to proceed with the work.
The civic body has blamed the abolition of the Local Body Tax (LBT) for the delay in implementing the budget estimate of 2015-16. As per TMC, before the LBT was scrapped it had hoped to earn Rs605 crore, but with its abolition the corporation has been facing severe financial crunch, resulting in the delay of releasing the budget, which in turn has affected the development projects in the city.
In a general body meeting conducted on Friday, corporators said most ward-level works and ward improvement funds have been held back.
"The budget was approved by the general body on May 19 and final draft was submitted on August 5, but till now money has not been released," added a corporator, requesting anonymity.
Sunil Chavan, civic body's additional commissioner, said, "Though the approved draft was received in the first week of August, the losses have been incurred because of abolition of LBT. Thus, a few aspects of the budget have to be revised and steps are yet to be taken to increase the collection from other departments like water and property tax."
The opposition alleges that after 2011, the budget was approved unanimously by the general body, but the implementation has been delayed again. "We fail to understand how the additional commissioner can suggest changes after the final approval," said a member of opposition.
Raising questions on the approval of proposals, the corporators said if the budget has not been approved, then there is no point in approving the proposals as they will fail to implement it. "Hence, the commissioner should first implement the budget and proposals thereafter," said a corporator.
The civic body has assured to implement the financial budget 2015-16 in a week's time and sped-up the civic work.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "works")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}