MC seeks special grant from UT Admn

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 15

Having exhausted its fixed deposit (FD) over the years, which was Rs 448.62 crore in 2013-14, and Rs 97-crore quarterly grant, the MC has now sought a special grant from the UT Administration.

“We have sought project-based special grant from the Administration. For continuing projects like illuminating dark spots and road recarpeting, there should be special funds,” said MC Additional Commissioner Anil Kumar Garg, who has the charge of the accounts branch.

Garg said the FD amount was generated by selling MC property. Earlier, the Administration had asked the civic body to generate more revenue rather than asking for the quarterly funds for a year in one go or special grants.

As per the Additional Commissioner, the MC got Rs 97 crore in the first quarter of this fiscal, which they have utilised. Besides, the corporation generates Rs 20-22 crore per month, which comes to around Rs 250 crore annually.

Revenue is generated from different sources, mainly from water bill, parking fee and property tax.

The MC has Rs 40-45 crore committed liabilities each month. It barely manages to meet these. Often development works are put on hold or stopped for want of funds. The civic body had faced situations when it hardly had money to pay salaries to its employees. Congress councillor Devinder Singh Babla said, “Ever since the BJP came to power in the MC, the financial health of the civic body has deteriorated.” Mayor Rajesh Kumar Kalia said, “To improve the situation, we will go to Delhi to get recommendations of the 4th Finance Commission implemented.”