MCD’s ‘Largest Budget’ Sees Focus On Landfill, Sanitation

New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Friday approved a budget of approximately Rs 17,583 crore for the 2026-27 financial year, which leader of the house Pravesh Wahi described as the largest in the civic body's history.Presenting the revised budget estimates for 2025-26 and the budget estimates for 2026-27 in the house, Wahi addressed a long-pending demand of rural residents by announcing complete exemption from the house tax for the owners of ancestral residential houses up to 500 square metres in 49 fully declared rural villages. In urbanised villages, the property tax on residential buildings up to 200 square metres will also be waived for the original owners.Emphasising improvements in civic amenities, Wahi said an allocation of Rs 5 lakh per ward had been earmarked for the maintenance of toilets, drains and culverts for better sanitation and public convenience, making an overall increase of Rs 2.5 crore under the head. He also praised chief minister Rekha Gupta's working style, drawing protests from the opposition benches.As per the 2026-27 budget estimates, the opening balance stands at Rs 410.6 crore, with the total income projected at Rs 17,184.1 crore and the expenditure at Rs 17,583.3 crore, leaving a closing balance of Rs 11.3 crore. The standing committee earlier projected a higher closing balance of Rs 1,204.9 crore.Among key fiscal measures, a provision has been reintroduced allowing group housing societies a 15% rebate on property tax for timely payment. On waste management, MCD reiterated its commitment to clear the Bhalswa and Okhla landfills by 2026-end and the Ghazipur site by 2027.In the education sector, two ‘Nigam Shri' schools will be set up in each zone from the next session to nurture meritorious students. The accident insurance cover for students is proposed to be doubled to Rs 1 lakh. Guards and sanitation workers will also be appointed soon to all primary schools.Lifeguards will be deployed at all swimming pools under MCD and guidelines will be issued to private operators. The announcement comes in the backdrop of last year's drowning of a six-year-old boy in an MCD swimming pool in northwest Delhi's Pitampura.In an employment-linked initiative, unemployed graduates will be given priority while allotting parking sites accommodating up to 100 vehicles. The allotment will be done through a transparent lottery system.On the infrastructure front, a Rs 64.2-crore over/underbridge project is being undertaken at the Sultanpuri railway crossing near Nangloi.MCD said 6,347 stray animals were captured in 2025 and action was taken against 184 illegal dairies, with enforcement drives set to intensify.AAP termed the BJP-led MCD's budget a "paper budget" failing to address key civic issues. Leader of the opposition Ankush Narang alleged it didn't provide concrete solutions for garbage mountains, sanitation, MTS workers or stray dogs. Indraprastha Vikas Party's Mukesh Goyal called it overall positive.