Finally, Centre releases Rs 227 Cr funds for JMC under 14th FC

JAMMU: Finally, after a long delay and repeated reminders by the state government, the Government of India (GoI) has released whopping Rs 227 crore funds for Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to undertake development works pending under the 14th Finance Commission since long.

“This was informed today in the General House meeting of the Jammu Municipal Corporation by Mayor, Chander Mohan Gupta, and the JMC Commissioner,” sources informed The News Now.

The Jammu Municipal Corporation was formed in October last year and since then the civic body had been awaiting funds pending under the 14th Finance Commission.

The funds were stalled by the Government of India as elections to the Corporations were not held. Sources informed that funds over Rs 400 crores for the year 2016-17 have already been provided to the panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir by the central government under the 14th Finance Commission.
Since its formation around 10 months back, the JMC had so far received only funds of around Rs 27 crore from the central government for undertaking development works.

Due to paucity of funds and delay in their release under 14th Finance Commission, the JMC had allotted Rs 10 lakh to each ward for development works.

The non-availability of funds despite passage of 10 months resulted in resentment among the Corporators, especially the Congress and the independents.

These Corporators lodged a strong protest in the general House meeting of the JMC yesterday and today, alleging that in these 10 months they have only been provided 30 to 40 street lights in their wards.

Sources informed that the General House meeting of the JMC has proposed that out of the Rs 227 crore, Rs 3 Crore be provided to Mayor, Rs 2 crore to Deputy Mayor and Rs 1 crore be kept at the disposal of each Corporator for undertaking development works.

“The Corporators have been told to submit proposals of development works which they intend to undertake in their respective wards,” sources informed.

There are 75 wards falling within the jurisdiction of JMC.

It may be mentioned that under the 14th Finance Commission, Rs 3117.36 crore have been earmarked for the Rural Local Bodies (Panchayati Raj Institutions) and Rs 1044.51 crore for the Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations, Committees and Councils) of J&K.

If Jammu and Kashmir meets the benchmarks laid down by the 14th Finance Commission for both Urban Local Bodies and Rural Local Bodies, the State would be able to get Rs 607.50 crore performance grant, which would be applicable from 2016-17 financial year.