The Indian Express 01.08.2012
Corporators want development fund to be reintroduced
More than a year after the BMC did away with development fund for
corporators — wherein all 227 corporators got Rs 1 crore each every year
— citing fund crunch, the standing committee is expected to consider a
proposal to introduce it again.
The proposal, expected to be tabled at the standing committee
meeting on Wednesday, however, seeks to slash the corpus size of the
development fund to Rs 50 lakh. The money is expected to be used for
ward level works such as constructing toilets, pavements and improving
solid waste management. Although corporators currently receive a
councillor fund of Rs 60 lakh each, there are various limitations and
conditions to use it. The size of councillor fund was hiked from Rs 35
lakh to Rs 60 lakh after corporators cried hoarse over BMC
commissioner’s decision to scrap the Rs 1-crore development fund.
Former municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar had done away with the
development fund citing financial crunch. “He had been of the view that
these funds are utilised for trivial things, such as political
functions and other non-development based work,” said a senior BMC
official, who did not wish to be named.
Kumar said: “I had scrapped it in 2011. In fact, I had not
approved it in the following year also. My views on this issue are
clear, aren’t they?”
Corporators, however, are hopeful the proposal will be passed
without much debate. “While the councillor fund can only be used for a
project amounting to Rs 5 lakh or less in any ward, there is no such
limitation in case of the development fund. As all corporators are newly
elected, they need funds to fulfil promises made in respective wards.
It is unlikely that anyone will reject it,” said Rahul Shewale, Shiv
Sena corporator and standing committee chairman.
Unlike the councillor fund, the development fund can be used for
construction of luxury amenities. “Councillor fund is a pittance. During
elections we had made several commitments, we will need more funds to
fulfil them,” said Dilip Patel, BJP corporator.The proposal will be sent to the BMC general body meeting once the standing committee clears it.