Ludhiana: Critics warn that the municipal corporation’s ₹1,258.8 crore budget for the upcoming financial year relies on “unrealistic” tax targets and a massive state govt debt that has yet to be paid.The 2026-27 fiscal roadmap is heavily leveraged against a ₹750 crore share of goods and services tax (GST) from the state govt — despite the fact that the state has reportedly failed to clear its dues for the current year. With property tax targets also hiked by nearly 20% in an election year, opposition leaders and even some civic officials are questioning whether the city’s development goals are built on a foundation of sand.The GST and Property Tax ShortfallThe budget’s viability hinges on two major revenue streams that are already underperforming. While the MC has penciled in ₹750 crore in GST revenue, only ₹498 crore of the current year’s ₹650 crore target had been recovered by Feb.Similarly, the new property tax target has been set at ₹195 crore, a significant jump from this year’s ₹160 crore goal. An MC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted the target is likely unachievable. “It is an election year,” the official noted. “Political interests will prevent strict action against defaulters, making a ₹30 crore hike an unnecessary burden on staff.”Infrastructure and Environmental RisksOpposition councillors have also raised alarms over the “sweeping and cleaning” project, which proposes washing major city roads. Critics argue that using potable water would be a waste of resources, while using treated water could still lead to disaster.“The roads are full of dust; if washing is done, the sewer system will be choked,” one councillor warned. Others questioned if the ₹518 crore allocated for development would be sufficient to cover major projects like solid waste management, which has been allocated ₹100 crore despite the civic body’s failure to secure a private partner for the work.Mayor Defends FiguresMayor Inderjit Kaur defended the ambitious figures, stating that high targets reflect the “scope” for recovery. “We want to provide better facilities, and funds are required for that,” she said. She confirmed the corporation has formally requested the state government to release pending GST dues to ensure development remains on track. MSID:: 129778306 413 |
