Delay in fund transfer holds up upkeep work

GURUGRAM: Three years after sectors were transferred to MCG, the corporation is yet to recover more than Rs 100 crore from Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), formerly known as Huda.
Though MCG officials are tight-lipped about what is delaying recovery of funds, they hinted that it’s indeed affecting the rollout of developmental work in 37 sectors handed over to the corporation. An official said full-fledged developmental work is not possible if MCG doesn’t recover from HSVP.
On March 28, 2016, the state government had ordered transfer of Huda sectors to the corporation for civic maintenance. According to the sector transfer agreement, Huda were to share 75% of the revenue generated by it in form of extension fee, plot transfer fee and other recoveries related to plots and flats with MCG.
The councillors, on the other hand, have demanded a reply from the corporation explaining why it failed to recover funds, which are required to improve services in all 37 sectors.
A senior MCG official said the corporation held several meetings and wrote to higher authorities on several occasions seeking funds. And due to the lack of funds, infra work like road repair and sanitation in various sectors is affected badly. MCG commissioners V Umashankar and Yashpal Yadav had written to Huda in 2017 and 2018 about the transfer of funds to the corporation, he said.
“It is unfair. The sectors and their amenities have been handed over to the corporation but funds are yet to be transferred,” said another official.
In 2017, the chief controller had directed Huda to calculate month-wise amount which has to be transferred to the MCG as per the terms and conditions of the sector transfer.
Councillor of ward 34 RS Rathee said, “The issue of pending funds worth Rs 100 crore for sector transfer has been raised by me in several house meetings. Again on June 28, I will question the authorities as to why the fund has not been recovered yet.”
He also said after the sector transfer, the corporation takes care of roads and sanitation also, and is responsible for not only water and sewer services. “And, in this scenario where the huge amount of money is lying unrecovered, the corporation cannot perform its role and responsibilities,” he added.