C T Online Desk: City Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury has announced a proposed budget of Tk 2,171.28 crore for Chittagong City Corporation for the fiscal 2022-23. He presented a revised budget of Tk 1,200.56 crore for the fiscal 2021-22. The mayor announced the budget yesterday at the Theater Institute Chittagong (TIC) auditorium. Chaired by CCC CEO Mohammad Shahidul Alam, the function was attended by panel mayor, general and reserved ward councilors, department heads, officers and employees. The mayor spent Tk 2,491 crore on the project ‘Development of various roads including Airport Road and development of important infrastructure under Chittagong City Corporation’ without any matching fund and the project titled ‘Excavation of canal from Baripara to Karnafuli river’ at a cost of Tk 1,362 crore (1st Amendment). He thanked the Prime Minister for approving the fund for waterlogging . He said work is underway to approve a full manpower structure of 9,604 people in the light of current and future needs as the scope of work of CCC has multiplied at present. After I took charge, Tk 148.65 crore has been paid for contractor and other arrears, Tk 3 crore for water bill and Tk 3.30 crore for gas bill. 15 crore 1 lakh 34 thousand 500 rupees has been paid as gratuity. The mayor said a special meeting was being held with senior government officials to settle the arrears and steps were being taken to collect the unpaid taxes. It may be mentioned that while the tax collection rate of Dhaka City Corporation is more than 90 percent, the tax collection of Chittagong City Corporation in the fiscal year 2021-22 is 46 percent so far. We have taken various steps to increase revenue collection. If properly respected traders get trade licenses, the number of trade licenses will be around 4 lakh. But at present, according to the register of the city corporation, the number of trade licenses is only 85 (eighty five) thousand. If all the traders are brought under the trade license, about 100 crore rupees will be collected in this sector. A letter has already been sent to the local government department to take steps to levy tax on imports and exports to increase revenue collection. A proposal has been sent to bring an amendment bill in the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009 to collect 1 percent service charge from the port revenue. Noting that mosquito eradication activities are an important issue in public health security, the mayor said the quality of mosquito repellents has been verified by entomologists at Chittagong University. In order to prevent mosquito infestation and to keep the environment free from pollution, regular mosquito repellent adulteration and insecticides spraying and removal of soil and sewage from drains are being carried out in 41 wards. The mayor said, “We have taken initiative to rehabilitate more than 100 homeless families in collaboration with UNDP by rescuing an illegally occupied place in Ward No. 9.” On the occasion of Mujib Year, 9 homeless families have been rehabilitated by constructing houses. CDA is implementing a mega project worth Tk 5,618 crore in 36 major canals of the city to alleviate water logging in Chittagong city, the responsibility of which has been given to the Bangladesh Army. Besides, Water Development Board and Chittagong City Corporation are working to reduce water logging with the help of government projects. It is hoped that if the development work is completed within the stipulated time, visible changes will be made in the elimination of waterlogging in Chittagong city. In addition, a consultant is being hired for a feasibility study on the development and rehabilitation of the remaining 21 canals in the city.
