Civic body to make cuts in development fund

The civic administration has planned to cut down on the development fund distributed by the Mayor among all the corporators in this financial year. Political parties have opposed the civic administration's move and the leaders will meet mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar to discuss the matter.

The civic administration has already slashed its annual budget by 32 per cent for the financial year 2017-18. Civic sources claimed that the municipal commissioner is planning to cut down on the development fund from Rs 400 crore to Rs 341 crore.

Development funds are given to corporators to carry out minor development works like repairs and maintenance of roads/footpaths, streetlights, and cleaning drainage system in their wards while the corporators fund is used for creating civic, social and cultural amenities.

This step is believed to have been taken in the backdrop of allegations over irregularities in disbursal of development funds by the mayor in the recent past. According to officials, in the finance department, there have been plans to end the development fund controlled by the mayor for the last few years. "All corporators across parties lobby to get the maximum fund," said the official.

Congress corporator and leader of Opposition Ravi Raja has opposed the move with 31 Congress corporators having written to the civic chief opposing the move. Raja said that they will not carry out development works if there is cut in allotment of fund.