AMC team meets CM for funds


A high-level delegation of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation led by mayor Himmatsingh Patel went to meet chief minister Keshubhai Patel to make a representation on fund procurement for development of the city.

At the end of the meeting, which lasted for about two hours, the chief minister gave his assurance that he would do his best to help solve the problems facing the corporation. The mayor said, "Mr. Patel listened to us and gave a very positive reaction.

The mayor had told the chief minister that from the total sales tax income received by the state, 25 per cent is contributed by the city. Similarly, the city contributes a lot to the Centre’s share of income tax.
This income is basically because of the development of the city and the efforts and infrastructural facilities provided by the AMC, he added. While the AMC contributes to the income of the state and the Centre, it does not get an equal share from the Centre or the state.

The mayor said that Rs 277.75 crores is needed for the complete reconstruction of the quake-hit parts of the city. "Given a chance, the city can fuel the state on a higher growth rate just like Andhra Pradesh has grown after the development of Hyderabad," added Mr Patel.

Moreover, the state government needs to follow-up the corporation’s demand to declare the city a mega-city with the Centre, requested the mayor. The city will also be benefited if the state government passed the new property tax proposals of the corporation and sanction a relief of 18 per cent penalty on tax arrears.

A request to give additional grants to V.S. hospital which caters not only to patients from AMC areas but from all over Gujarat was also made. The mayor also requested that the state government took a quick decision and sees the implementation of the schemes announced for the quake-hit, development of the Sabarmati River Front development, Abad dairy problem and AMC schools. The city is likely to need Rs 2,700 crores in the next 10 years for developmental projects that are planned, said the mayor and the chief minister.

Republished from TheAsian Age