Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Bhopal Municipal Corporation has proposed a budget of Rs. 3,611.99 crore for the financial year 2025-26, an increase of over Rs. 300 crore from the previous budget of more than Rs. 3,300 crore. The predicted income and expenditure are nearly identical, with a suggested deficit of Rs. 110.07 crore after assigning a 5% reserve.
A 10 percent increase has been proposed for property tax, and a 15 percent increase has been proposed in the rates of consumer charges—water rate, sewerage, and solid waste—for this financial year 2025-26.
The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget meeting for the financial year 2025-26 started on Thursday with the permission of BMC Chairman Kishan Suryavanshi. The BMC Chairman extended his best wishes for the Navratri and Eid festivals to Corporation members and welcomed the passing of the Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament during the session.
BMC Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sabista Jaki opposed the appreciation of the Waqf Amendment Bill, stating that all the properties of work are of God, referring to them as "Allah" properties.
Following which, the question-answer session began.
Yogendra Singh Guddu Chauhan, Councillor of Ward No. 46, asked his first question, requesting detailed information regarding the projects started or ongoing under the Housing for All Scheme after the formation of the Council from the Mayor-in-Council (MIC) member Chhaya Thakur. During the third question posed by the LoP, her microphone was not functioning properly. After this, an answer was given by MIC member Jitendra Shukla.
The microphone problem reoccurred, prompting BJP Councillor Ravindra Yati to raise an objection. The BMC Chairman instructed BMC Commissioner Hirendra Narayan to punish the responsible party and take strict action for this disturbance. The Chairman noted that the microphone issue appears at every meeting and that action should be taken to avoid this problem.
'One Nation, One Election'
Following the conclusion of the question hour, Councillor Suryakant Gupta, with the Chairman's permission, presented a proposal on the concept of One Nation One Election. Congress councillors raised objections, with LoP Sabista Zaki questioning the relevance of this matter to the Municipal Corporation. The matter escalated as Congress councillors, along with LoP Sabista Zaki, surrounded the Speaker's fort, adding further tension to an already eventful session.
