‘Financial planning needed for proper functioning of MC’

Sharma said: “The councillors met the Local Bodies Minister and aired their grievances. He then directed me to ensure that the proceedings of the House are carried out smoothly.”

Not only councillors,even local MLAs had complained about the lack of coherence during previous meetings to the minister and even the Chief Minister.

A number of development works in various wards are pending despite approval. Lack of funds has been cited as the main reason for delay in installation of tubewells,recarpetting of roads and cleaning of sewer lines among others.

It has,however,now been decided that the commissioner and mayor will devote around four hours in a week to address the problems of councillors and chalk out a plan to expedite work on those projects that can be completed by the end of the financial year.

It also needs to be mentioned that Sharma served as commissioner of the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation for four years before he was transferred in July 2006.

Addressing the problem of fund crunch due to which the development of the city has come to a halt,Sharma said: “The source of income is still the same when I was commissioner and there is no new expenditure. According to preliminary information available,stress needs to be laid on proper planning of the expenditure. Councillors should be allotted a budget quota for their wards but at the same time,the expenditure should be need-based. Officers should divert the funds allotted to developed wards to the undeveloped areas if they are lying unused.”

He added: “Recently,I had marked an inquiry into an expenditure of Rs 4.5 crore on short-term projects. Councillors are allowed to undertake works up to Rs 5,000 after taking a sanction from the zonal commissioner but there has been huge pilferage under the garb of short-term expenditure.”

During the meeting,councillors complained that MC stores were lacking even basic material such as brooms,lids of rain drains and manhole covers.

A K Sinha,the new commissioner,said,“I have delegated powers to the zonal commissioners so that they are authorised to take decisions for their areas. They can always come to me with the list of the works in any area along with their suggestions.”

Women councillors shun being mute spectators

Thursday’s general House meeting was better coordinated as all the 75 councillors were given a chance to speak one at a time and for a change, women councillors emerged as good speakers. Most of them spoke for the first time and that too with elan and confidence. Women councillors usually step down and let their husband or son take centrestage,but they were not allowed to enter the meeting hall this time.

Ravinder Kaur Chadha,Mandeep Kaur,Poonam Ratra and others shed light on minute details and hurdles coming in the way of several projects and surprised all. They also questioned the officials present for the delay of projects in their wards.