Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Dipak Majumder on Monday presented the budget of Rs. 366.39 crore for the FY 2022-23 with an emphasis on improving civic amenities. The AMC Budget also proposed a slew of measures to provide a boost to State Government’s endeavour for enhancing employment generation activities for the youth and women SHGs.
It was the seventh budget of the AMC and was the first budget of BJP controlled Corporation.
Addressing the media, Majumder said, there is no new tax proposal in the budget.
He said, the AMC budget for the previous year was Rs. 245.33 crore and this year the budget size was increased to Rs. 366.39 crore – there is an increase of Rs. 121.57 crore in the budget 2022-23 as compared to the budget of 2020-21, the Mayor said.
Estimated deficit was pegged at Rs 59.11 lakh while income was pegged at Rs 366.39 crore. In the press conference, Majumder was accompanied by Deputy Mayor Manika Das Dutta.
As far as the basic amenities are concerned, the Mayor said, there would be discount on timely payment of property tax, all ward offices would be given internet connection, 30 community and public toilets would be constructed in the city, all street food vendors would be registered under the FSSAI and one 100-bedded shelter House for Urban Homeless people would be constructed at GB Bazar.
“AMC would take legal action against the Illegal slaughter houses and construct scientific slaughter houses with proper hygiene and waste management”, Majumder added.
Besides, the AMC budget proposed that cremation in Battala crematorium would now become charge-free.
There would be no change in the water Tax and a city water action plan has been prepared to supply tap water to 100 percent households by the Tripura Jal Board, he added.
In addition, Rs. 89.25 crore has been kept under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) under which 4135 new houses would be provided, the Mayor said.
The other important proposals in the Budget are- 100 percent door to door Garbage collection plan would be executed, , there would be 20 percent relaxation in Hoarding/ Advertisement Tax for the year 2021-22 due to Covid-19 and DC Nagar solid waste Processing Plant which is non-operational since July, 2017 would be made fully operational.
Providing a fillip to State Government’s self-reliance call, Majumder made two major announcements in the AMC budget – 500 Interest Subvention Loans of Rs 2 lakh would be provided to unemployed youths residing within the periphery of the AMC area and 300 Interest Subvention Loans would be provided to the Women SHGs of the AMC area.
Moreover, the AMC Budget 2022-23 proposed to provide trainings to 500 Women SHG members on Bamboo Craft, Bee Keeping and Biofloc fish farming. An one-time Revolving Fund of Rs.10,000 would be provided to the Women SHG and Rs.50,000 to the Women ALF, the vending zone would be developed in central zone of AMC for registered street vendors
According to Majumder, 13,54,200 mandays would be generated during the financial Year 2022-2023 (average 40 days) and the fund has already been kept under Tripura Urban Employment Programme (TUEP).
Commenting on the revenue generation, the Mayor said, “There is no new tax proposal in the Budget. However, the AMC will generate revenue on its own and become Atmanirbhar. The Smart City Mission, Urban Development department and AMC are working together to build a New Agartala.”
