The Committee has already given its go ahead to the draft budget, and it is now likely to be put for the final approval before the VMC General Board.

This year, the VMC has proposed extra taxes of Rs 31.50 crore, hiking water, drainage and property taxes. The total revenue budget comprises Rs 531.70 crore as income and Rs 338.23 crore of expenditure, with a surplus of Rs 193.47 crore. The water charges are proposed to be increased from the current Rs 540 to Rs 850.

Reacting to this, Zaveri said, “By not recommending any changes in the proposed taxes for drainage, water and property taxes, the Standing Committee has exposed its ‘inability’ to work in ‘demanding’ situations.”

He added that the BJP has stranded the common man at a time when it needed to act upon the proposed extra taxes by VMC commissioner M K Das. The Corporation could have very well allayed the overall tax burden on the citizens.

He further said, “By proposing to make new vegetable markets and night bazaars, the VMC has cracked a joke on its administration as such things are being talked for the last 10 years.” “It’s rubbish to talk about night bazaars when existing shops are forced to close their operations by 11 pm,” he said.