No fresh taxes proposed in Shimla Municipal Corporation Budget

No fresh taxes have been proposed in the budget of Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) for next financial year, presented by Mayor Sanjay Chauhan here today.
The Rs 401 crore budget of the civic body leaves Rs 44.53 crore surplus. Also, for the first time, a bonus of Rs 1,000 has been proposed for every employee and a provision for implementation of sixth pay commission has also been made in the budget.
A provision for opening five Dhabas where a "Thali" would be available for Rs 25 has also been made in the budget.
Elections to Shimla Municipal Corporation is slated to be held this year. In 2012 direct elections, posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of SMC were bagged by CPI(M), which was otherwise in acute minority in 25 member house.

This time, indirect elections would be held for SMC and the number of wards has been increased to 37.
Chauhan and Deputy Mayor Tikender Panwar have demanded direct elections for the post of mayor and deputy mayor and decided not to contest SMC polls this time.