Batala MC upgraded to corporation

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Batala, September 17

The Batala Municipal Committee has been upgraded into a Corporation but officials in the know wonder how the new body will generate money to pay salaries to the staff.

The Punjab Government has already issued a notification to this effect. In the 2017 parliamentary by-poll, Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar had promised to upgrade the Committee in his election manifesto. “Undoubtedly, it is due to the Jakhar’s efforts that we have got the status of a Corporation. He has delivered on his promise. But is it worth it?” asked an official. A delimitation exercise has begun after which 15 new wards will be added to the existing 35.

The Corporation will have to tap new avenues to generate funds to pay for the salaries of the mayor, senior deputy mayor, deputy mayor, commissioner, additional and joint commissioners and 50 municipal councillors. The new Corporation would be burdened with an extra Rs 2 crore to pay the wages.

“In the present scenario, it is not only impossible but improbable too for the Corporation to pay the salaries. Right now, a councillor is paid Rs 8,000 per month. Now, after the notification, rules state that he/ she would have to be paid double the amount. Expenses for maintaining cars and offices of the mayor, his two subordinates and the commissioner and his two junior colleagues are extra. We do not have money to install streetlights and maintain our sewerage system. How will we generate the extra taxes is anybody’s guess,” averred Naresh Mahajan, the outgoing MC president.

Residents, too, will feel the pinch as rules state that property tax would be increased by Rs 1 per square foot.