Amid uncertainties, corporation to finalise 2025-26 budget on March 19
Mar 1, 2025, 22:08 IST
All councillors are likely to take part in these meetings, particularly because no statutory and ad hoc committees, including education and health, have been established so far.
"Usually, after the proposed budget was tabled in the standing committee by the commissioner, it was sent to the statutory or ad hoc committees for discussion and addition of points, if required. But for the last two years, the scenario has changed. With no standing and other committees being formed, the civic body is left with only the option to hold discussions in the House meeting.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to finalize its budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year on March 19, 2025, amid several uncertainties.
Budget Presentation and Key Allocations
On February 13, 2025, MCD Commissioner Ashwini Kumar presented a budget proposal totaling ₹17,266 crore for the 2025-26 financial year. A significant portion of this budget, ₹4,907.11 crore (approximately 28.86%), has been earmarked for sanitation efforts. The budget also emphasizes waste management initiatives, including the establishment of processing plants to handle the city's daily generation of approximately 6,000 tonnes of construction waste.
Budget Deliberation Schedule
The MCD has outlined the following schedule for budget discussions:
March 3, 2025: Leader of Opposition, Raja Iqbal Singh, will initiate the budget debate.
March 10, 2025: Congress leader Nazia Danish will present her views, followed by a general discussion among councilors.
March 12, 2025: Continuation of the general budget discussion.
March 19, 2025: Final adoption of the budget estimates.
Challenges and Uncertainties
The budget finalization faces challenges due to the non-formation of statutory and ad hoc committees, such as those overseeing education and health. This situation necessitates that all councilors participate directly in the budget discussions, deviating from the traditional process where specialized committees would review and suggest amendments.
Additionally, the MCD has refuted circulating reports about property tax exemptions, clarifying that all property owners and occupiers are still obligated to pay property tax as per existing laws. The corporation emphasized its ongoing financial challenges, including over ₹14,000 crore in outstanding dues, which impact its ability to provide essential civic services.
The upcoming discussions and the final approval of the budget on March 19 are crucial for addressing these challenges and ensuring the effective delivery of services to Delhi's residents.