Councillors’ ward development fund limit to take Rs 3-lakh leap

The representatives had been complaining that they were unable to effectively use ward level funds allocated to them for development work in their respective wards due to the limitation set for expenditure.

The PMC allots Rs 20 lakh to each councillor every year for carrying out development work in their respective wards. However,the government had put a limitation of allowing work of a maximum of Rs 2 lakh at a time. Meanwhile,the civic body is all set to increase ward-level fund from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh in the coming fiscal year.

“The limitation of Rs 2 lakh was creating hurdles for councillors to carry out work in their wards. The prices of raw material have increased and it was difficult to carry out any development work,” said the Mayor. He said the PMC had requested the state government to change its rule and extend the limit to at least Rs 5 lakh for each work.

The chief minister has called a meeting on the issue in the next week,Rajpal said adding,“I am confident that the state government would extend the limits to allow councillors to take up bigger development work in their respective areas.”

PMC Chief Accounts Officer Ulka Kalaskar said,“The civic body does not allow councillors to undertake work that costs over Rs 2 lakh from their ward-level fund. The civic body has twice passed a resolution urging the state to increase the set limit but there has been nothing so far.”

Leader of Opposition Ulhas Bagul said,“I fail to understand the reason behind government putting limitation on spending of ward level funds of councilors. It has prevented elected representatives from taking up work that requires more money.”