The Hindu 18.06.2013
Is Corporation hit by funds, ask Councillors
Is the works being carried out under the Jawaharlal
Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) affecting regular
development works?
This is the question Councillors cutting across party lines are asking after they see a delay in sanctioning works.
The
Councillors, on condition of anonymity, say that it appears that the
Corporation has bit more than it can chew because a good portion of the
income earned goes towards paying the civic body’s contribution towards
JNNURM.
The Corporation has to bear 30 per cent of the project cost under the JNNURM scheme.
And the Corporation has to use a portion of the income to pay loans it has availed of.
Outcome Budget
In
the 2013-14 Outcome Budget, the Corporation has allotted works to the
tune of Rs. 48.17 crore – storm water drain Rs. 24 crore; comprehensive
sewerage scheme Rs. 14.50 crore; 24×7 water supply scheme Rs. 2 crore;
rejuvenation of water bodies Rs. 1 crore; improvements to natural drains
Rs. 1 crore; and e-governance Rs. 5.67 crore.
The Corporation had presented a deficit budget of Rs. 20 crore.
A
ruling party councillor says that the shortage of funds was affecting
regular works like constructing drains or laying new roads. As a result,
contractors who regularly take up contract work, too are feeling the
pinch in that there are very few projects on offer.
It has been so for the last year or so.
A
contractor close to the ruling establishment says that it is largely
repair and maintenance work with a minimum budget that is available for
contractors.
Construction of new park, road or other works that usually get passed at the zonal meetings are few and far in between.
Earlier crisis
A
senior AIADMK Councillor says that when there was a financial crisis
around 10 years ago, low-budget works were taken up at the ward-level.
But that is not happening now.
The Corporation is forced to look up to the State Government for funds.
This does not bode well for a city that has big ambitions.
Officials,
however, say that the Corporation was not sanctioning storm water drain
projects at places covered under the JNNURM project to avoid
duplication.
Likewise, it avoids sanctioning natural drain cleaning works for the very reason.
On the water supply front, the Corporation sanctions works without delay.
Funds shortage has never been a problem for the Corporation, they add.
