Youngsters took active part in fort cleaning

TNN | Jun 26, 2018, 15:23 IST



Youngsters from Nashik spent their monsoon morning by doing shramdan at Khairai fortnear Nashik recently. They were also supported by volunteers from Shivkarya Gadkot Sanvardhan organisation.

They not only cleaned the canon which were half buried under the debris and mud but also made platform to keep it safe. They also cleaned the water tanks by removing debris and other things. All volunteers and youngster spent the day in shramadan in spite of a gloomy weather and occasional rain. The volunteers including sports persons who recently bagged medals in various competitions were also felicitated on the occasion.









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Maharashtra curbs Shirdi trust's land purchases TNN | Jun 27, 2018, 13:59 IST Representative Image

NASHIK: The Law and Justice department of the Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued a set of rules regarding land acquisition and land purchasefor the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) Shirdi. The new rules bar the trust from buying land unnecessarily, and beyond 15 km radius of the town.

The government has asked the trust not to purchase land without reason or just because the land owner has requested purchase of land. "Government's approval will be a must for every land purchase proposal. The land should be purchased only if the trust needs it for some project which has been approved by the trust executive body," says the resolution.







https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/maharashtra-curbs-shirdi-trusts-land-purchases/articleshow/64761691.cms

Nashik: 41-village regional water scheme for Yeola Abhilash Botekar| TNN | Jun 30, 2018, 22:37 IST

NASHIK: The water supply department has decided to include the 41-village regional drinking water supply scheme in the National Rural Drinking Water Supply Programme to ensure the villagers of the drought prone Yeola taluka get drinking water.

According to the water supply department the 41-village water supply scheme will provide drinking water to Rajapur, Mamdapur, Rendale, Angulgaon and others.

The scheme will be based on the existing 38-village regional water supply scheme.

The 41-village water supply scheme will include maximum numbers of villages in the drought prone taluka of Yeola. When the scheme comes effective, it will be another step towards being a tanker-free taluka.

The scheme will ensure assured drinking water to the villagers and will be a major relief for them.

The 38-village regional water supply scheme currently draws water from Palkhed Dam, but the new scheme is expected to draw water from Nandumadhmeshwar Dam.

Pre-feasibility report for the project was presented by the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran in the month of September 2017. Separate storage water tank will be created by reserving water on Express Canal at Nandurmadhmeshwar. This water will be pumped for the scheme.

The reservation of drinking water on Nandurmadhmeshwar is much beneficial considering the shorter distance required for the water to reach the beneficiary villages as against the 38-regional water scheme where the water has to travel 94 km from Palkhed Dam through open channel leading to loss of water and even water thefts on the way.







https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/nashik-41-village-regional-water-scheme-for-yeola/articleshow/64809614.cms

Chemicals being used to kill Neem trees: Nashik activists Sumita Sarkar| TNN | Jul 1, 2018, 20:42 IST Activists have alleged that chemical-like substance is being used to cause damage to the Neem trees

NASHIK: Environment activistsmet civic chief Tukaram Mundhe on Saturday evening seeking solution for trees being killed with chemicals.

On Friday, during her regular morning walk in Tapovan, activist Bharati Jadhav noticed holes dug near the base of few Neem trees. On going closer, she found that some chemical-like substance was poured into the holes. A regular on this road, Bharati noticed that the chemical was poured recently.


These trees are on the road divider since years and are not a hindrance to people or traffic. The road is also wide and after construction for Simhastha Kumbh Mela's 2015-16, many people began using it for their morning walk or jog.

"We met municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Saturday evening. We showed him the pictures we clicked of 3-4 trees. But he said that he could take action only if we had evidence of who had done it. He asked us to register the complaint on NMC e-Connect App. The chemicals are used so that the trees fall off automatically in few days," Bharati said.

She added that it was very clear someone had deliberately created a hole and poured the chemical.

"The road is wide, the trees are on the divider, there is no construction work going on and yet someone played this mischief. We will file a police complaint on unknown persons;" said Jagbir Singh, another activist.








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Plea against tree cutting pending, but people push for road widening
Santosh Sonawane | TNN | Jul 5, 2018, 10:30 IST

The residents of Sinnar Phata said they have been witnessing accidents on the 2.5km stretch of the highway bet... Read More


NASHIK: The residents of Nashik Road have demanded that the stretch of Nashik-Pune highway near Sinnar Phata be widened immediately in the backdrop of the recent accident there.
While a major portion of the highway has four lanes, the stretch from Sinnar Phata to Darna river is not more than seven metre, thus leaving little space for even a divider.

Two people were killed and six others injured near Sinnar Phata opposite Nisarg Lawns on Sunday night. Nashik Road police said the driver of a car was heading towards Sinnar when he tried to overtake a truck and ended up ramming his vehicle into a hatchback coming from the opposite direction. The drivers of both cars died on the spot while six others suffered serious injuries.

The residents of Sinnar Phata said they have been witnessing accidents on the 2.5km stretch of the highway between Sinnar Phata and Darna river for the past several years.

Santosh Akde, who owns a grocery shop along the highway, said accidents are frequent on the stretch of the highway that has not yet been widened. “The entire highway till Sinnnar and even ahead has been widened, but this stretch has been left as it is for years together. We have seen many people getting killed or sustaining severe injuries due to accidents on this stretch,” he said.

Others expressed their anger against people who have objected to trees being chopped for widening the road. Another resident, Vivek Andhale, said that had the road been widened, there would have been little chance of a head-on collision between two cars. “The officials of the highway and other departments should bring this matter to the notice of the high court so that a decision over cutting the trees and widening the road is taken up at the earliest.”

Other residents said that after the widening of the highway was announced five years ago, Sinnar Phata witnessed considerable development with many residential colonies coming up in the area. Though the population of the area has increased, the highway has not been upgraded to handle the heavy traffic.

Officials from the highway division of the state public works department (PWD) said a case is pending in the Bombay high court after an activist filed a petition against chopping of 246 trees on the stretch. A few months ago, the Bombay high court had instructed National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to take stock of the trees that are proposed to be cut for widening the 2.5km stretch of the highway.

The team had visited Sinnar Phata in April to conduct a survey and has also submitted its reports. Highway officials, however, said they were not aware about the findings of the report. More clarity on the matter is expected during the next hearing of the case, during which the court may take a final decision on widening the highway.










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MIDC to rent out Nashik's IT Park building to entrepreneurs by July end MIDC has itself made it clear that the minutes are to be sent shortly and office spaces at the IT Park to be rented out to start-ups or budding entrepreneurs within a monthTushar Pawar | TNN | July 07, 2018, 10:00 IST


NASHIK: The Information & Technology (IT) Park building of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation’s (MIDC) at its Ambad industrial estate, which had been lying idle for the past 16 years due to lack of demand, is likely to get operational in a month or two.

MIDC is likely to rent out spaces in IT Park building to start-ups and budding entrepreneurs by month end.

The Directorial Board of MIDC has already reduced the lease rates by 33% following demand by the industries during its meeting in April, but regional office of MIDC is yet to get the minutes of the meeting, which delayed renting out spaces to budding entrepreneurs.

But MIDC has itself made it clear that the minutes are to be sent shortly and office spaces at the IT Park to be rented out to start-ups or budding entrepreneurs within a month.

Industrial associations had raised the issue of IT Park building during a meeting of industries with the state industry minister Subhash Desai, held recently in Nashik. The MIDC CEO Sanjay Sethi was also present at the meeting.

Sethi had assured the industrial associations that the issue of renting out spaces at the IT Park would be settled within a month.

There had been code of conduct into force in past two months due to elections to MLC. This delayed renting out office space to entrepreneurs at the reduced rates. But MIDC CEO Sethi has himself assured us that the issue will be cleared within a month, said Mangesh Patankar, president, Nashik Industries & Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA).

There had been demand from the industries to reduce the lease rates of office spaces in the IT Park building. Accordingly, the issue was on the agenda of the recent board meeting. The Directorial Board of MIDC approved the proposal of the regional office to reduce lease rates by 33% to Rs 16 per sq ft, against previous lease rate of Rs 24 per sq ft.

The IT Park building is lying idle for the past 16 years following poor response from industrialists to buy spaces. The rates quoted were so high and that was the reason MIDC got poor response from industrialists.

The state government had set up several state-of-the-arts IT Parks in some tier II and tier II cities, including Nahsik, around 16 years back in a bid to boost IT sector here.

MIDC built IT Park at Ambad MIDC area in 2002 with an investment of Rs 2.23 cr. The three-storeyed IT Park building, which includes 15 offices, has offices spaces in the range from 2,000 sq ft to 3,000 sq ft.








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Smart City: NMSCDCL launches skill development and employability
Sumita Sarkar | TNN | Jul 7, 2018, 17:15 IST


NASHIK: With an aim on holistic economic development of Nashik and making the city more vibrant and livable, Nashik Municipal Smart City Development Corporation Ltd. (NMSCDCL) initiated a project aimed at Skill Development and Employability of the youth in the city as part of the Smart City Mission.

The project commenced on Tuesday through the successful completion of an industry academia consultative workshop held at Express Inn Hotel.

The workshop was chaired by municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. CEO of NMSCDCL Prakash Thavil, representatives of skill development, employment and self employment and tourism departments of government of Maharashtra were also present.

The workshop witnessed active participation of more than 50 senior leaders from leading corporates and industry associations like Bosch, ABB, L&T, TCS, CREDAI, Institute of Engineers, Nashik Engineering Cluster, Builders Association, Sandip Foundation, KK Wagh Institute, Nashik Govt. Polytechnic etc.

Mundhe shared his vision of making the city a truly “Skill City” by ensuring adequate collaboration with industry, academia and government and ensuring appropriate forward and backward linkages with the stake holders.

He elaborated on his plan, "The Municipal Corporation and NMSCDCL would be focusing on skill development of about 10,000 youths in Nashik".

To ensure that the right candidates are identified for the right trade and sent to the right institute, he laid down the approach to be taken by NMSCDCL.

As part of it, NMSCDCL would conduct workshops across the city for the youth to understand their needs, inviting applications and assessing them (through an assessment test). Based on the industry requirements (gathered from the workshop today), student needs and assessment result, candidates would be selected and assigned trades and institutes. The whole training would be outcome based with focus on learning and job/entrepreneurship. Practical knowledge will be given due importance and steps would be taken to ensure that the training programs have adequate practical sessions.

Mundhe said, "NMSCDCL would build a state of the art startup, incubation, innovation and R&D hub".

He also stressed on the need for collaboration between the industry and the training service providers and highlighted that the Corporation will take a lead in fostering the same.

Mundhe urged the participating organizations to not merely lend financial support to this initiative, but rather be actively involved in identifying suitable sector and associated trades in-line with requirements of the industries and aptitude of the candidate, refining the course curriculum, mentoring candidates, delivering special sessions and facilitating on-the-job trainings; to ensure successful outcomes.

The participants from the industry welcomed this initiative and shared the critical skill gaps which included technical areas and trades like construction, electrical, plumbing, painting, supervisory staff, office assistants, ITeS/BPO as well as soft skill aspects.










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Nashik: Availability of energy meters now online
Abhilash Botekar | TNN | Jul 7, 2018, 15:03 IST


NASHIK: The energy consumers willing to apply for new connections or even change in meters will no more be taken for a ride by Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) officers saying metres are not available as the data of availability now has been thrown open to public.

The MSEDCL has thrown open the data of availability of meters to the public through online system.

The data of meters available with every section has now been compiled by MSEDCL and has flashed it on the website, where consumers can check without being required to log in.

“It is the Operational Data that has been available on the website www.mahadiscom.in. Consumers can visit the website and the head to find ‘Section wise availability of various meters’,” the MSEDCL officers said.

The data available in excel sheet has in depth information about availability of single phase meters, three phase meters, Low Tension three phase meters, LT CT operated meters and even High Tension Time of Day meters required for industrial and commercial connections.

“The MSEDCL has taken up an approach to the provide connections on demand in most of the towns in the state, while in parallel it is also working on power connections to the agriculture sections and even in rural areas. The availability of the meters is thus going to help much in achieving the task,” the officer added.

There were some times when some officials would turn down the request of connections or even asked the consumers to wait for some time till the meters were available, but now the consumers can verify themselves the information and can register their complaint through online process itself.

“The applications can be done online, the availability of meters can be checked online and at the same time the complaints if any, can also be raised online. So the consumer need not go anywhere or see the MSEDCL person for purpose of filing complaints,” the officer added.








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MahaRERA eyes 3,000 projects to be registered every year in the state Tushar Pawar | TNN | Jul 16, 2018, 20:31 IST

NASHIK: Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) said that around 3,000 real estate projects on an average would be registered with it every year.

The chairperson of MahaRERA Gautam Chatterjee, who was in the city recently for the two-day summit by Credai, said that it is mandatory for developers to get registered with MahaRERA. The event concluded on Saturday.

Ever since MahaRERA came into existence on May 1 last year 16000 projects have been registered with the authority, including the ongoing projects.

“At present all new projects would have to be registered with us. The developers cannot launch or advertise their projects until they get registered. Our aim is to see to it that on an average around 3,000 projects to be registered every year with MahaRERA,” said Chatterjee.

During his speech at the inaugural event Chatterjee had warned developers of action if their projects are not registered with Authority.

According to S Choklingam, state settlement commissioner and director of Land Records amendments are taking place in Land title acts.

“Maharashtra is the first state where leave and license agreements are registered at home online. It needs to check history of land before the land measurement and this is the time consuming process. Hence, we are working on simplifying the process, said Choklingam.

He added that his department is also in the process of giving digital property cards. Presently, department is in the process of modernisation.

“Last fiscal, the government had got the revenue of Rs 25,000 crore from this department,” added Choklingam.

Mangal Prabhat Lodha, chairman of Lodha Group said, “After agriculture, the realty is the largest sector that provides maximum employments. But the sector is passing through a phase of slowdown. The rising tax rates and declining profit margins are the major concerns of the sector. We need to pursue with the government on CREDAI’s platform to take positive decisions to boost the realty sector.”



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Nashik Municipal Corporation issues alert for low lying areas following heavy downpour Sumita Sarkar | TNN | Updated: Jul 17, 2018, 20:26 IST


File photo of water released from Gangapur dam.

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation has issued an alert for residents of low lying areas following continued heavy rains in the city and discharge of over 3,000 cusecs of water from Gangapur dam.

“In addition, water from places around the river had gone into it. Hence, at present there is 8,000 cusecs of water in the river,” Mahajan said. “There is no danger as yet but we have issued the alert for safety. We have also deployed 40 of our persons for attending emergency calls,” informed Mahajan.

He informed that a Neem tree had fallen near Ashok Stambh that the fire department had cleared in the morning.

The water near Ramkund area has covered all the steps to the river and has reached the edge of the road. There is water even below the building of Purohit Sangh due to which pooja is not being performed there. However, many pilgrims are visiting temples that are on the other side of the road and sprinkling water from Godavari on themselves.

“We cannot take a holy dip in Ramkund and hence we are sprinkling water on ourselves. We also visited the nearby temples like Kapaleshwar and Kalaram Temple. Most of the temples by the river bank are inaccessible due to the increasing water level,” said Ragini Pandit, a pilgrim from Ahmednagar.

Vendors by the river bank have moved upwards as the water is drawing closer to the road. All the small and pedestrian bridges have become inaccessible.

“Every year we observe the water rising and gauge how far it will come in what period. Accordingly, we shift to safer locations,” said Shantabai Unhavne, a vendor.

Meanwhile, the road below Gadge Maharaj Bridge has also become inaccessible and people are using alternate longer routes to commute.








https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/nashik-municipal-corporation-issues-alert-for-low-lying-areas-followng-heavy-downpour/articleshow/65026160.cms

Civic body to replace over 4k rusty streetlight poles Tushar Pawar | TNN | Jul 18, 2018, 22:35 IST


Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to erect over 4,000 new electric poles in different parts of the city.

NMC officials said many of the existing streetlight poles have rusted and damaged and need to be replaced. “The NMC will also set up new poles at points where the streetlights have been installed on electric poles of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Litd (MSEDCL),” added officials.

Civic officials have also identified spots where streetlights are requires and would be erecting new poles there. The project would cost NMC about Rs 5.37 crores.

The civic administration has put up a proposal in this connection for discussion in the general body meeting on Thursday. “The project will be rolled out as soon as the general body gives it nod,” civic officials added.

According to NMC officials, spots in 18 of the 31 wards have been identified to install the new poles. The project of erecting new electric poles would involve installing poles of different heights at different locations, laying underground cable, installing streetlight brackets, installing FRP boxes, overhead service wires etc.

“This proposal does not include the work of installing light fitting and feeder panel. Those have been proposed under the smart light project under the smart cities mission,” added officials.

During a recent meeting of NMC corporators and city MLAs with district guardian minister Girish Mahajan, municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe had said that around 4,000 new electric poles need to be installed in the city and necessary provision has been made for the purpose in the this year’s civic budget.

There are 69,000 streetlights across all six divisions of municipal corporation. Meanwhile, over 30% streetlights are defunct in Ambad and Satpur industrial estates of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Most of the poles are rusted and damaged. Industrial associations have been demanding regular maintenance of electric poles in MIDC estates, located in the civic limits.








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Anti-encroachment drive conducted by NMC TNN | Jul 18, 2018, 22:34 IST
Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) carried out an anti-encroachment drive in Nashik Road area of the city on Wednesday.

During the drive, the civic body removed as many as 40 encroachments, including 10 outlets and 30 kiosks conducting business in no-hawking zone on the road near Devi Chowk.

The post office near Devi Chowk had complained the municipal corporation about the roadside encroachments. Accordingly, the anti-encroachment department of the NMC conducted a drive on Wednesday in the area amidst tight security.

Around 60 employees and officials from the NMC conducted the demolition drive. Moreover, around 35 police personnel had been deployed for security.

“These vendors were carrying out business on the roadside in areas that has been declared as no-hawking zone. This was also causing hurdles to the smooth movement of vehicular traffic. The post office in the area had complained to us about the encroachments. Accordingly, we took action and removed the encroachments,” an NMC official said.

The NMC has already started a series of anti-encroachment demolition drive, being implemented in all six divisions of municipal corporation — Nashik East, Nashik West, Nashik Road, Panchavati, Satpur and Cidco divisions — for the past few months following instructions from the municipal commissioner Mundhe.

The civic administration has warned encroachers, including hawkers and vegetable vendors, to refrain from encroaching the footpath, roads and squares in the city that causes inconvenience to the pedestrians.

The civic body has also cautioned that it would continue to take action against encroachments along city roads and footpath.






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MSEDCL yet to bring light in 1 lakh households in Nashik zone Abhilash Botekar


Though the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has succesfully supplied electricty to 41,647 lakh households in Nashik and Ahmednagar districts in Nashik Zone, it is yet to provide electricity connections to 1.06 lakh households under the Saubhagya yojana.

| TNN | Jul 20, 2018, 10:54 IST

NASHIK: Though the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) has succesfully supplied electricty to 41,647 lakh households in Nashik and Ahmednagar districts in Nashik Zone, it is yet to provide electricity connections to 1.06 lakh households under the Saubhagya yojana.

Under the Saubhagya Yojana launched by the Union power ministry which aims to provide power to every household by December 2018, MSEDCL has chalked out a massive plan to provide electricity connections at a cost of Rs 500 and free of cost to those who fall under the economically weak category.

The ‘power to all’ programme undertaken by the Government of India aims at electrification of every household without bothering the beneficiary for the infrastructure costs—that may range from laying simple service wires to construction of poles.

Most villages and hamlets are deprived of an electricty connection for two reasons— the cost of power connection and the inability to pay for the infrastructure.

“Under the scheme ‘Saubhagya’, the beneficiary gets one connection, one charging point and an LED lamp. In Nashik district alone, MSEDCL has furnished 29,271 connections so far,” said an MSEDCL official.

The officers of the state electricity utility said as per the targets set under the Saubhagya Yojana which was declared in October 2017, the company has achieved 98% of its target.

“We still have to provide connections to 50,074 households in Nashik district alone,” said the officer. Similarly in Ahmednagar district, the MSEDCL has already provided 11,926 connections. It needs to provide connections to 55,977 households to achieve 100% electrification.
“The target set for July is to provide connections to all the households using service wires. After July, focus will be on connections requiring infrastructure set up,” said the officer.






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Nashik civic body administration rejects GB’s decision to roll back property tax hike On Saturday, the civic administration said it would not accept the resolution passed by the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s general body earlier in the week that rolled back the property tax hikeSumita Sarkar | TNN | July 22, 2018, 12:31 IST

NASHIK: The property tax hike continues to be a contentious issue between the civic administration and the elected representatives in Nashik.

On Saturday, the civic administration said it would not accept the resolution passed by the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s general body earlier in the week that rolled back the property tax hike. The general body curtailed the tax hike of at least 40% proposed by the administration to 18%. Also, farmlands were given respite by the general body.

Civic chief Tukaram Mundhe said that the resolution of the general body was “null and void” because the municipal commissioner has the right to fix the tax rate. He added that he would take appropriate decision about the tax structure after he receives a copy of resolution passed by the general body.

Mundhe quoted a high court order of 1996 that clearly mentions that every land is taxable. Moreover, he was not allowed to speak during the general body meeting when the discussion on tax hike went on till midnight.

“Under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act, 1950, chapter 8 sub-section 2, 3 and 4 are regarding taxation rule. Rule number 7, sub-section 1, states that the municipal commissioner has the right to fix the rateable value for property tax. If no one has appealed, then the municipal commissioner has the right to declare the hike in property tax. The municipal commissioner has to declare the tax rate year-on-year basis before March 31. Hence, the resolution made by the general body is wrong and illegal,” he said.

He added that the tax is on the land and not for agriculture. “The commissioner has to decide whether or not to implement the resolution. When the resolution comes to me, I will take appropriate decision. They can go to the state government and prove that my decision is wrong. Then, I will withdraw the hike. Till then, the hike decided by me will be implemented,” he added.

The civic chief added that the corporators had approached him in the past and he had reduced the tax on agriculture land in yellow zone from 40% to 20%. However, the notification was not published as the corporators were undecided.

“The NMC gets its revenue from property tax, GST, service tax, hoarding, grants, etc. I studied the issue and decided that 10% hike in the rateable value was needed. I am comparing Nashik with Navi Mumbai, PCMC, Thane because it is a B-class city and these cities are more developed. We have done what is necessary for economic growth, infrastructure, ease of service and ease of business in the city,” Mundhe said.

The civic chief said that agreement of 1,731 NMC shops came to an end on March 31, 2015. In 2016, it was decided that rent should be charged from shops as per ready reckoner rates.

“The corporators asked us not to take action against shops. We eliminated this too. Out of 903 gyms, community halls, libraries, 729 are operating without licence. They want lesser rates to be charged. Corporators proposed 2.5% ready reckoner for shops, but now, they don’t want any action. They don’t want to hike the tax. Where will the administration get revenue? We cannot neglect the revenue when expenditure is increasing,” he said.

He added that there was a need to hike property tax, the rates of which have not been changed since 1991. In 2014-15, the NMC received revenue of Rs 2,011 crore, in 2015-16, it dropped to Rs 1,063 crore. In the following year, the revenue collection was Rs 1,080 crore and in 2017-18, it was Rs 1,200 crore. This financial year, the revenue target is Rs 1785 crore.

“The general body raised the revenue target to more than Rs 2,000 crore. From where will this money come? We got only Rs 76.65 crore from property tax, Rs 126 crore from town planning department, Rs 48 crore from water tax, Rs 86 crore from miscellaneous tax and so on,” Mundhe said.

Political leaders refused to speak on the administration’s decision on Saturday, but the leaders have in the past met the chief minister, seeking his intervention in the matter. The chief minister heads the urban development department under which all municipal bodies in the state function. They had raised the matter with the guardian minister Girish Mahajan during a review meeting last Saturday.








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Clear all pending files: Mundhe to town planning department Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Wednesday directed the town planning department to clear all pending files.

TNN | Jul 26, 2018, 11:08 IST
NASHIK: Municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Wednesday directed the town planning department to clear all pending files.

There are over 1,200 files that are pending with the department for the last three years. All these files were related to approvals for commencement certificates, building completion certificates, occupancy certificates and Transfer of Development Rights (TDR), among others.

A Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) official said the civic chief had a review meeting with the town planning department on Wednesday where he instructed the officials to speed up the approval process and ensure no files are pending.

There has been restructuring of the town planning department and most of the staff of the department, including deputy engineer and junior engineers, have been transferred and replaced by the officials from other departments.

“The civic chief has taken serious cognizance about the pendency of the files with the town planning department. He has directed the officials to clear all pending files at the earliest,” the official added.

While scanning the files of the department last month some of the senior officials of NMC stumbled upon the fact that the department was sitting over several files without giving the nod.

Taking serious note of this, the municipal commissioner had appointed an eight-member team from the audit department to examine files of three previous fiscals. During examination that continued around a week, the audit teams found as many as 1,461 files pending with the department for the past three years.

“Now over 1,200 files are still pending with the town planning department. He has told the officials that he would keep a track whether these pending files are being cleared in time-bound manner or not,” the official added.





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