AMC Budget 2018: opposition seeks OTS for property tax, funds for temples

A one-time settlement (OTS) scheme for outstanding property tax, allocation of funds for development of religious structures at Sabarmati Riverfront, and a cricket stadium in East Ahmedabad are among the proposals by opposition Congress in the 2018-19 budget of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Addressing media-persons, Dinesh Sharma, leader of opposition in AMC, proposed additional development works of Rs 151 crore, and revised budget size of Rs 7,150 crore. The AMC standing committee had proposed a budget of Rs 6,990 crore, comprising revenue expenditure of Rs 3,500 crore, and capital expenditure of Rs 3,490 crore.

“Our amendments to the budget are aimed at improving lives of people of Ahmedabad by providing them better facilities. We hope the ruling party will incorporate our recommendations in people’s interest,” he said. He proposed an allocation of Rs 20 crore for development of 50 religious structures, including 40 temples, on both sides of Sabarmati Riverfront. He also proposed a policy to regularise such structures. The Opposition leader recommended allocation of Rs 20 crore for constructing a cricket stadium in East Ahmedabad with a seating capacity of 50,000.

While noting that outstanding property tax figure stood at Rs 1,200 crore, Sharma proposed a one-time settlement scheme to recover dues …read more