Mohali MC to get Rs 362.5 crore from GMADA

Kulwinder Sangha

Mohali, August 5

For the first time, the Mohali Municipal Corporation will get Rs 362.5 crore from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for carrying out maintenance works in areas within the jurisdiction of the civic body. It has also been decided that maintenance and capital works in Sectors 48 to 71 and Sectors 76 to 81 will be transferred to the corporation by GMADA.

The written proposals sent by the Chief Administrator of GMADA to the Mayor, including various conditions for the use of the funds, were unanimously adopted by the general house of the corporation at a special meeting held here today.

GMADA will give Rs 50 crore to the civic body every year from 2016-17 to 2020-2021 and later Rs 22.50 crore annually from 2021-2022 to 2025-2026.

Mayor Kulwant Singh said it was for the first time that GMADA had extended such financial assistance to the corporation, which would help in the development of Mohali. He thanked Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Local Government Minister Anil Joshi for taking personal interest in the problems faced by Mohali residents.

MC to handle works

GMADA said the maintenance works in Sectors 48 to 71 and Sectors 76 to 81, including villages falling in these areas, would be done by the corporation. The works would include the repair of roads, maintenance of the water supply, sewerage and sanitation, streetlighting and horticulture. Work related to the maintenance of the community centres, sports complexes, the solid waste management system and the transport system would also be handled by the corporation.

Use of funds by civic body

GMADA will release funds to the corporation after getting utilisation certificates, which will be released every three months. The funds will have to be kept in a separate account which attracts the maximum rate of interest. The interest earned in this regard will have to be given to GMADA. Under-utilised funds  will not be carried forward to the next financial year. A separate record of the GMADA funds will be maintained and a financial and technical audit of the expenses will be got done. GMADA emphasised that the funds must be spent only on maintenance works and nothing else. 

Pending works to be completed

Development works which could not be completed in Sectors 76 to 80 by GMADA due to litigation would be completed before being transferred to the civic body.  

Building bylaws to be implemented by GMADA 

Building bylaws in the areas being handed over to the corporation will be implemented by GMADA. 

The corporation will be responsible for legal disputes relating to the maintenance works in the areas handed over to the civic body. If any dispute arises between GMADA and the corporation, the decision of the Principal Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, will prevail.