Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, which is facing a serious financial crisis, is expected to get relief. The administration has instructed its various departments to surrender the additional budget. The administration will take back the remaining budget of the departments and will seek approval from the Union Home Ministry (MHA). If approval is received, the corporation may get help after March 15.
Not enough funds even for salaries
The condition of the corporation has become such that it does not have enough funds even to pay the salary for the month of February. The corporation needs about Rs 170 crore immediately. According to sources, the administration has issued a letter to all the departments. It has been said that the departments which have more funds available and will not be able to spend it by March 31, should surrender it.
The administration plans to take the same additional money from various departments and give it to the corporation after the approval of the Union Home Ministry. The corporation has also been informed in this regard. The mayor has also been informed in this regard in a recent meeting with the administrator. If permission is received from the ministry, the corporation can get financial assistance after March 15. This will not only enable the employees to pay their salaries on time but also make funds available for other development works.
Extra funds with the electricity department
Recently, the electricity department of the UT administration has been privatized. In such a situation, the electricity department has a lot of funds available, because from February 1, the entire 100 percent responsibility of the department has been given to the private company. According to sources, a lot of money can also be surrendered by the electricity department. Apart from this, some other departments have also spent only 75-85 percent of their budget.
Recently, in front of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Chandigarh Chief Secretary Rajiv Verma, Home Secretary Mandeep Singh Brar, Finance Secretary Deepra Lakra and many other officials have given a presentation and demanded additional funds for the corporation. It has been said that the corporation is working on many projects, for which additional budget is required.
The administration can give money as a loan
The administration can also give this money to the corporation as a loan. This is being suspected from the fact that on June 21, when councillors of all parties led by Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla met Administrator Gulabchand Kataria at Raj Bhawan, the Administrator had asked that if the money is given to the corporation on loan, how will it return it. Regarding this, the Administrator has instructed to make a detailed plan.
