Councillors get in election mode

In run-up to polls, North Delhi Corpn releases development funds

With the Delhi Assembly elections only a few months away, BJP-led municipal corporations don’t want to be outdone by the Congress-led Delhi government in development work in the capital.

Also, with several councillors hoping to get a party ticket for the Assembly polls, corporators want to expedite development work in their areas.

Giving in to the demands of the councillors, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to release Rs 1 crore of the Rs 1.41 crore councillor fund in one instalment.
The decision to clear more than two-third of the councillor fund in one installment has been taken to ensure that councillors can start maximum development projects before the model code of conduct comes into force.

Earlier, the corporation used to release funds for their councillors in installments of Rs 50 lakh to Rs 40 lakh at a time.

The proposal of giving Rs 1 crore to each councillor in one go was passed in the House meeting of the North Corporation on Monday.

Leader of the House Mahender Nagpal said he has instructed councillors to speed up development process in their respective wards.

“We have told our councillors to complete as many development projects as they can. The commissioner has also approved the budget, and money won’t be a problem,” said Nagpal.

“As soon as they prepare their estimates and come to us with the budget, we will clear their proposals up to Rs 1 crore,” he adds.

A majority of the councillor fund is likely to be used on lighting, roads and parks, he added. 

While the North corporation has taken the lead on the issue, the South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations have also started the process of moving files in this direction.

“We will take out Rs 50 lakh from our unplanned budget and Rs 50 lakh from our escrow accounts. We have told all our councillors to work heavily on development without wasting any time,” said Subhash Arya, leader of the House in South Corporation.

There are 272 councillors in all the three MCDs combined. While North and South Corporations have 104 members each, there are 64 in the East Corporation.