Fund crunch halts MC development works

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 23

The Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, is facing hurdles in getting its day-to-day development works done due to a shortage of funds.

Everyday many councillors come to the Mayor office with several problems, including sewage overflow, leakage in pipes, contaminated water supply and other issues, but instead of solutions to the problems, they get only assurances.

Besides, the MC has approved development works of more than Rs 30 crore at the recently held General House meeting. It doesn’t have funds for these projects and it has written to the state government for the same. So far, the state government has not replied to the MC on the issue.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said the state government was not providing any funds. They had demanded funds for various works but to date, they had not received any reply from the government in this regard, the Mayor added.

The MC is also facing problems in paying instalments of various loans. It has taken a loan of Rs 105 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) and Rs 52.45 crore from the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB).

The civic body also has to pay Rs 183 crore to Triveni Company for the 100 per cent sewerage and water supply project. The MC has to pay Rs 11 crore for development works from its income.

The MC has Rs 11 crore for regularisation charges but there is no direction from the state government on spending the money. So, the further step can only be taken after receiving directions from the government in this regard. It also has Rs 3 crore by way of the cow cess but the amount can only be spent on gaushalas. The HUDCO has set aside Rs 4 crore of the MC as an advance amount.

Civic body seeks funds from state govt

• The civic body has written to the state government for funds. So far, the state government has not replied to the MC on the issue. 
• The MC is also facing problems in paying instalments of various loans. It has taken a loan of Rs 105 crore from Housing and Urban Development Corporation and Rs 52.45 crore from the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board.