Mumbai’s elected corporators are seeking a substantial increase in their annual ward development allocation, proposing that the existing Rs 60 lakh fund be raised to Rs 1 crore. The demand has received support across political parties, with corporators citing rising construction costs, inflation and growing civic requirements in their wards.
A notice of motion moved by BJP corporator Ashwini Mate, seeking the 67% increase, is expected to come up for consideration at the BMC’s next general body meeting.
Mate said the present allocation is inadequate to address pressing ward-level requirements, including road repairs, sanitation, public toilets, garden maintenance and other essential civic works. She also pointed to the increase in material and labour costs, which has made it difficult to complete projects within the existing financial limit.
Supporting the proposal, Shiv Sena (UBT) senior corporator Sachin Padwal said the current ward development allocation was insufficient.
“There are two types of funds available to a corporator. The corporator fund can be utilised anywhere within the ward. However, the Rs 1 crore development fund is specifically earmarked for essential civic works such as gutter repairs, toilet repairs, road concreting and other work. Moreover, 18 per cent GST and another 14 per cent in various BMC charges are deducted from the allocated amount. In effect, a substantial portion of the fund is lost before the actual work begins. At the same time, the BMC’s schedule of rates has changed considerably over the last nine years, pushing up the cost of every civic project.”
“This is not merely a demand for more money for corporators; it is a demand for adequate funds for the people of every ward. We have consistently demanded that the corporator fund be increased to Rs 1 crore so that elected representatives can effectively respond to the genuine civic needs of their constituents.”
Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi also backed the proposal.
“Since we are in the Opposition, the corporator fund is the only source available to us for carrying out civic works in our wards. The allocation for each of the 227 corporators is already inadequate. If another Rs 40 lakh is added and made a budgetary provision, it will become a committed allocation and cannot be arbitrarily taken away.”
The ward development fund was previously around Rs 35 lakh before being increased to Rs 60 lakh in 2011. Corporators said there has been no revision since then despite substantial increases in project costs.
If approved by the BMC House, the proposal will be forwarded to the Municipal Commissioner for further consideration.
Source: The Free Press Journal
