The law committee of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation gave its administrative approval to all development projects estimated to cost Rs 50 lakh, in the draft budget of 2012-13, during a meeting on Monday.

"The civic administration had tabled the proposal to obtain administrative approval to the civic projects," said Prasad Shetty, chairman of the law committee. "The resolution has been sent to the civic general body for further approval."

The civic administration tables the draft budget for the coming fiscal before the standing committee which then approves it and sends to the civic general body for further approval. The general body can discuss and make changes in the budget before March 20 and has to give its approval before March 31 so that the budget is implemented from April 1.

However this year as the municipal elections were held in February 2012, the state government directed that the outgoing civic body not make any policy decisions. The mayor was elected on March 13, members of the standing committee on March 20 and its chairman on March 29.

The civic administration began implementation of the draft budget from April 1 under the special powers of the municipal commissioner.

"The civic administration did not give members information about the projects included in the budget," said Shetty. "The new projects cannot be started without the approval of the general body. The corporators did not want to hold up the approval for lack of information, so quick administrative approval was given."

The resolution for the creation of two new zones in addition to the existing four zones was also approved at the meeting. Another resolution to reorganize the existing four zones as per the new wards and increased population was also approved.

Shetty said that the proposal of the civic administration for rationalization of octroi rates has been kept pending. The members want more information about this proposal. The resolution for incurring expenditure of Rs 24.88 lakh for digging pits for tree plantation in Zone A has been approved.