Centre denies ₹3k cr to local bodies over pending elections

The central government has refused to release a whopping ₹3,000 crore-plus worth of funds meant for development works to urban and rural local bodies in the absence of elected representatives in these bodies.

- Surendra P Gangan

MUMBAI:

The rural local bodies stand deprived of over ₹1,800 crore while the urban local bodies are waiting for over ₹1,200 crore to be released as grants from the 15th Finance Commission.

Since elections to local bodies have not been held for over three years on account of various petitions pending in the Supreme Court, most urban and local bodies are governed by administrators who report directly to the state government.

All the 29 municipal corporations, 248 municipal councils and 42 of 147 nagar panchayats in urban areas are currently under administrators as are all 34 district councils and 336 of 351 panchayat samitis in rural areas.

The 15th Finance Commission, whose five-year term ends on March 31 next year, releases funds to urban and rural local bodies for solid waste management and projects related to air quality and water supplies.