The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is set to present its budget estimates for 2024-25 during a special session on Saturday, December 9, 2023. In a departure from the usual practice, Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti will directly present the budget in the MCD House due to the absence of a standing committee.
The standing committee, typically an 18-member decision-making body, is currently non-existent, leading to a departure from standard protocol and a lack of significant policy changes in this year›s budget.
Mayor Dr. Shelly Oberoi stressed a more inclusive approach, stating, «This time the budget will be approved by the general public of the national capital rather than the officials. About 100 meetings will be held to communicate with the public, and based on the feedback, a reevaluated budget will be presented inside the house in January 2024.»
Mukesh Goel, the leader of the house, explained that without the standing committee and statutory body formation this time, discussions on the budget will involve the general public of Delhi, RWAs, market associations, etc. The feedback received from Delhiites will guide the implementation of the budget.
In contrast, the former mayor and leader of the opposition, Raja Iqbal Singh, accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of disrupting the budget process through unconstitutional methods, alleging that the AAP aims to pass the budget directly into the assembly.
He emphasized the importance of equal participation of councillors to ensure a civic-centric budget.
Singh highlighted the traditional process involving the commissioner presenting budget provisions to the standing committee, followed by discussions in various committees and the assembly.
