Civic body’s share down, faces uphill task ahead

 Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 28
The cash-strapped Municipal Corporation received a major blow when its share under the Plan head was reduced from last year’s Rs 136.60 crore to Rs 102.45 crore in the Budget for 2015-16. The amount is Rs 34.15 crore less than what was allocated for 2014-15.
This week, the UT Administration had already stopped a Rs 58.60 crore grant to the civic body. In all, the MC will now face a fund shortage of Rs 92.75 crore, which will ultimately affect its development projects such as the underground multi-level parking in Sector 17, proposal to construct two more underground multi-level parkings in the city, construction of underpasses and installation of tubewells.
At a recent meeting of the MC, the general house had passed Rs 348.15 crore for the Plan head but the MC received only Rs 102.45 crore, which is Rs 245.7 crore less as compared to the MC’s proposal.
Councillor and house tax committee member Mukesh Bassi said people had voted for the BJP for “achhe din”, but the cut in the MC grant would affect development works in the city. During the Congress regime, the city never faced any cut in the grant, but now the MC was facing a shortage of funds, he said.
Councillor Pardeep Chhabra blamed local MP Kirron Kher for the cut in the MC grant. He said they would once again strongly take up this issue with the UT Administration.

Allocation to MC under different heads

• Rs 84.07 crore for urban development, roads, sewerage, storm water drainage and solid waste management.
• Rs 11.25 crore for the augmentation of the city water supply system.
• Rs 2.25 crore for augmentation of infrastructure in villages under the MC limits.
• Rs 2.25 crore under the primary education head for better infrastructure.
• Rs 1.50 crore for primary health care.