The present annual grant of Rs 6.5 crore from the 13th Finance commission for solid waste management in Cuttack is highly inadequate and, therefore, the Cuttack Municipal Commission (CMC) on Thursday urged the State Finance Commission to increase the funds for the purpose.

At a meeting held here between the Fourth State Finance Commission and all the urban local bodies coming under the ten districts of central division, the CMC Commissioner made a plea to increase its annual allotment.

The 13th Finance Commission is now providing an annual grant of Rs 6.5 crore to the civic body for the solid waste management. “But we need at least Rs 18 crore for the purpose,” said the CMC Commissioner. He also pointed out that the civic body is now facing extreme financial crunch and the holding tax structure in the city has not been revised for last several years for which major developmental projects are suffering.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of RDC PK Mehrda and attended, among others, by State Finance Commission Chairman Chinmaya Basu and Urban Department Project Director BK Mohapatra. The executive officers of all the urban bodies in the 10 district of the Central Revenue Division were also present.

The Finance Commission was also urged to make adequate fund provisions for eviction drive and setting up of vending zones, Kalyan Mandaps and town halls and parks in the urban local bodies.

The urban local bodies’ executive officers told the finance commissioner that developmental works in their respective areas are being severely hampered due to poor staff strength. They also pointed out that in many areas the civic body employees are underpaid.