The Hindu    31.08.2012

Rs. 5 crore withdrawn as Kolar CMC fails to utilise funds

The State government has decided to withdraw several crores of rupees from a number of urban local bodies in view of the failure of town municipal councils and city municipal councils to utilise the funds granted for development activities.

The Urban Development Ministry has allocated partial amount of the withdrawn funds to other local bodies. The secretary of the department has written in this connection to the Commissioner of Directorate of Municipal Administration.

Among the nine urban local bodies, Kolar City Municipal Council (CMC) stands at the top in losing funds. Of the Rs. 10.64 crore unutilised by the municipal council in Kolar, the government has withdrawn Rs. 5 crore.

Originally the grants were made to the urban local bodies under the Chief Minister’s Small and Medium Towns Development Programme.

The following are the unutilised funds and the amount withdrawn by the government from urban local bodies in nine districts (amount withdrawn is in bracket): Mandya Rs. 5.37 crore (Rs. 2 crore), Udupi Rs. 6.51 crore (Rs. 2.5 crore), Gadag Rs. 7.66 crore (Rs. 3 crore), Shimoga Rs. 6.73 crore (Rs. 3 crore), Bidar Rs. 8.64 crore (Rs. 3.5 crore), Yadgir Rs. 4.70 crore (Rs. 1.11 crore), Chamarajnagar Rs. 6.97 crore (Rs. 2.5 crore), Koppal Rs. 3.93 crore (Rs. 50 lakh) and Kolar Rs. 10.64 crore (Rs. 5 crore).

Beneficiaries

Of the Rs. 23.11 crore withdrawn, Rs. 18.61 crore has been re-allocated to these urban local bodies: Rabakavi-Banahatti Rs. 1.66 crore, Badami Rs. 1.88 crore, Bilagi Rs. 1.60 crore, Guledgud Rs. 66 lakh, Ilkal Rs. 1.66 crore, Jamkhandi Rs. 1.66 crore, Kerur Rs. 66 lakh, Mahalingapur Rs. 1.06 crore, Bantwal Rs. 1.66 crore, Kadur Rs. 1.66 crore, Birur Rs. 66 lakh, Tarikere Rs. 1.66 crore and Chikmagalur Rs. 2 crore.

Lacking coordination

Lack of coordination between MP and Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa and district in-charge Minister Varthur Prakash, who are vying with each other to control the municipal council, is said to be the main reason for the failure of the local government to utilise the funds for the development of the city which suffers without infrastructure.

The political rivalry between Mr. Muniyappa and Mr. Prakash, coupled with the lack of vision among councillors who were allegedly primarily interested in amassing wealth out of public exchequer, has left the city in the lurch.

Though the authorities did not mention the role of “politics” for the prevailing situation, they admitted that was lack of leadership vis-à-vis development of the area.

“Delay in carrying out works as well as unscientific approach in plans and estimations are some of the reasons why the funds were not utilised in the stipulated time,” municipal commissioner M. Mahendrakumar told The Hindu on Thursday. “Quality of work carried out also contributed to the factor,” he added.