In their first interaction with the team of 15th Finance Commission presently on a tour of Jharkhand, the Urban local Bodies (UlBs) presented their performance in terms of financial management to seek more support in return.
The team headed by retired bureaucrat and parliamentarian Nand Kishore Singh had a close door meeting with Mayors and chairpersons of Nagar Parishads on the first day of its three-day trip on Wednesday and exchanged ideas.
Urban Development Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh briefed the Commission members and officials present in good number highlighting the good works done by the UlBs acting on the suggestions of the previous 14th Finance Commission.
“The Government has divulged 19 subjects to the municipal corporations and Nagar Parishads, on which they are free to take their own decisions and act accordingly. Some works are still to be done on this front. Most importantly, performing excellently on the front of revenue generation from their own resources which was one of the suggestions made by the 14th Finance Commission the UlBs of the State have registered commendable 126 per cent jump from Rs 92 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 208 crore during 2017-18,” said the Secretary.
The Chairman during the presentation enquired about tenure of the existing office bearers who have been elected for the next five years in 2018 itself. NK Singh expressing satisfaction over fairly long spell left with them; listened to their problem areas and demands for more funds.
“I stressed over allocating fund based on development deficit for the UlBs and not based on their population or area. It means the funds should come as per the need of that specific city. This apart, I dragged their attention towards situation of drinking water, sewerage system which most of the UlBs in the State are still fighting for. If they want to come at par with other developed cities of the country there is strong need for special package otherwise they need another 60-70 years to improve,” Dhanbad Mayor Chandra Shekhar Agarwal said. The coal capital of the country after fairing badly on sanitation in 2016 and tagged as the most dirtiest city on Swachh Bharat survey, has improved its tally and ranked 109th on cleanliness one year later.
Similar were the sentiments of Ranchi Mayor Asha lakra who stressed more over situation of drinking water and also raised demand for special treatment given to the capital city. “Ranchi is not any other city of the State. Being the capital city of Jharkhand, Ranchi needs special attention for its overall development. Its needs can be fulfilled only through additional package. We have a lot to do on the front of basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation and drains,” said Asha lakra.
later the Commission sat with rural representatives representing gram panchayats, zila parisads etc. Rural elected body members expressed concern over limited fund allocation being done to them which is hampering works at village level. “We need more autonomy and funds should directly be credited to us from the Finance Commission. If we are given financial powers true picture of development can be seen right at the grass root level,” said a gram sabha representative of Kanke.