Corporators seek more funds for development works

The city corporators have urged the Fourth State Finance Commission Chairman C G Chinnaswamy to recommend to the state government to increase the grants to civic bodies, during an interaction session, held at MCC, here on Thursday.

Ex-mayor Sandesh Swamy said, the civic bodies are getting 10% grants from the
government to take up various development activities and it should be increased to 15% and it should be uniform for all civic bodies across the state.

Swamy alleged that the government is meting out step-motherly treatment to a few districts in providing financial aid, and is also reducing sanctioned funds by the year-end.

“If we fail to take up development works owing to shortage of funds, people target local representatives and not the state government. So, the government should issue strict orders to the officials responsible for tax collection and implementation of programmes,” he said.

The corporators pressed the Commission to recommend to the government to earmark more funds for tourism development, road extension works, housing schemes, solid waste management and drinking water.

H N Srikantaiah said, nearly 34,000 people in the city are living without houses and the MCC needs more funds to provide housing to all.

He urged the Commission to suggest the government to take measures to build eco-friendly and permanent toilet facilities.

Ex-mayor B L Bhyrappa said, MCC is maintaining 600 layouts developed by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and the city is developing at a healthy pace. So, a scientific underground drainage system, roads, waste management units, drinking water facility and other basic facilities are needed. The government should sanction more funds considering all these works, he said.

R Lingappa said, the city needs extended parking facility as traffic movement has increased in recent years. Corporator J S Jagadeesh highlighted that the city is suffering due to shortage of civic workers, and Jamshedpur Utility and Services Company (JUSCO), which was managing water supply in the city, has created several problems.

Mayor remains absent

The newly elected Mayor, M J Ravi Kumar of JD(S), remained absent for the meet. BJP corporators including, Deputy Mayor Rathna Lakshman, boycotted the session as BJP lost the election to the chairmanship of the Town Planning and Improvement Standing Committee, which was earmarked for the party corporator .

Corporator K V Mallesh, Ashwini Ananthu, Commission members Amarnath, H Shashidar, and MCC Commissioner G Jagadeesha were present.