Projects can wait, MC barely has funds for maintenance

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 4

In the next fiscal, the Municipal Corporation will not be able to carry out even maintenance works let alone development projects with the estimated funds.

The civic body’s own revenue estimate of Rs 397 crore and grant-in-aid of Rs 425 crore merely make up for its salary and other unavoidable expenses, which is about Rs 817 crore. The MC’s total annual fund availability estimate comes out to be almost the same — Rs 822 crore.

It means the corporation will be left with only Rs 5 crore for the whole year. “If we total the amount of our own revenue and funds under the Budget, we will not be able to carry out even the maintenance works. Development works are a far cry. We will be at the mercy of the Administration the whole year,” said an official. The funds under the Budget will be allocated to the corporation on a quarterly basis.

According to estimates, a whopping Rs 507 crore will go in salaries of MC employees, Rs 140 crore is estimated for electricity expenses, Rs 58 crore for pension, Rs 20 crore for fuel and Rs 92 crore on running two petrol pumps.

“In the current financial year, our own revenue is estimated to be Rs 208 crore. In the next fiscal, we are going to increase it to Rs 397 crore. Still, we are behind. The Administration should hand over to us the Registering and Licensing Authority and stamp duty so that the MC can work efficiently,” said the official.

On account of lack of funds, city roads are in bad shape. Recarpeting work on several roads has been on a hold for about two years. Likewise, renovation of toilets and community centres has been held up too. Many contractors have stopped various civic works as their bills have not been cleared by the MC. Outsourced workers have often been seen protesting outside the MC building seeking pending salaries. With the current estimated allocation, it seems, things will deteriorate in 2020-2021.

The MC has no option other than to ask the Administration for additional funds like every year.

Mayor Raj Bala Malik said, “We will keep seeking additional funds from the Administration, but will not let works suffer in the city.” According to Commissioner KK Yadav, they have prepared a proposal of Rs 1,471 crore for the next fiscal in anticipation of the 4th Delhi Finance Commission recommendations.

An official said in a week, they were expecting to get about Rs 75 crore of the total Rs 150 crore announced by UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore in November last year.