Split looming but MCD drafts budget

NEW DELHI: Even as the state government is working out the nuances of MCD’s trifurcation, the civic agency on Thursday started preparing its budget for 2012-13. Experts said MCD was wasting time on a futile exercise, given that it will soon cease to exist as a single body. In his budget speech, leader of Opposition JK Sharma, too, attacked the ruling BJP for mismanaging funds and not being realistic while preparing budget estimates. “The ruling BJP and the administration have not been realistic in preparing the budget in the last few years. The expected revenue was way above the actual earnings in the last few years. In 2010-11, the civic agency claimed it will earn Rs 6, 346 crore as revenue which is almost double of what it earned in the previous year — Rs 3,638 crore,’’ said Sharma. With three months to go for municipal polls followed by trifurcation of MCD, the budget session has little meaning as the newly formed corporations will have to prepare a fresh budget depending on the funds received by Delhi Finance Commission. “The Congress seems to be confused about the functioning of the corporation. Congress councillors are trying to please Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit so that they can get tickets in the upcoming elections,’’ said Yogender Chandolia, chairman, standing committee.