It is really good news for the civic administration Nagpur as it got the nod from Urban Development Department (UDD) of Maharashtra Government to implement recommendations of 7th Pay Commission. However, while granting its assent, UDD has made it clear to NMC that State will not provide any additional financial assistant for implementation of the revised pay structures. Therefore, the task is now entrusted upon the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) as they would have to slog it out and increase the income of NMC to ensure sufficient funds are available for enforcement of 7th pay commission scales. Similarly, State Government has laid out road map for financial reforms which means the acceptance of employees demand is conditional. One of the major challenge before civic administration is to ensure that its establishment cost is within the prescribed limit of 35 per cent of its total revenue. Further the notification from UDD mandated bringing all the properties in corporation areas in the property tax net using GIS mapping and target for same is December 2020. In fact, same is made mandatory if NMC is keen to implement the 7th pay scale recommendation.
Similarly, restructuring property tax demands of all the properties in NMC area too should be completed by current year end and 90 per cent of tax demand realisation should be done by March end. Before end of financial year, civic body would need to ensure recovery of 50 per cent of arrears of property tax. Besides that lease renewal too should be done by NMC about its properties as per guidelines issued on September 13, 2019. Reforms are also mandated in water cess and it is directed to ensure 90 per cent recovery of bills. The UDD notification also made it clear that 7th pay re c o m m e n d a t i o n should be provided only to sanctioned post. The new posts created by NMC on its own would not get benefit of the revised pay scale. The civic body is also directed to keep enough reserves to service the loan and advances taken by it for various development works. In short, State Government has asked NMC to be self independent in financial matters and not to expect any new advances post implementation of recommendations of 7th pay commission.
