During a latest review, it has come to light that the Sambalpur civic body has failed to utilise funds it received during 2012-13 for various purposes. According to sources, in 2012-13, the municipality got Rs 22 crore from the State Government, but it spent only Rs 12 crore and the rest Rs 11 crore remained unuitlised. Most interestingly, out of the Rs 12 crore spent, Rs 9 crore was spent for staff’s salary.
Housing and Urban Development department Additional Secretary-cum-nodal officer for the urban local bodies of Sambalpur and Deogarh districts AK Ray said that the municipal authorities of Sambalpur are yet to give the utilisation certificate (UC) of the amount it spent for different purposes.
Ray informed that the civic body has spent less on development works of the town and more on salary of the staff members. “Hence, the municipality is ignoring the development of the town and in order to hide its weakness, it is misleading the public,” Ray said.
Ray further said that funds will not be a constraint for the civic body if it comes out with new project proposals. Everything depends on how effectively it can utilise the funds, he asserted.