Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 21

The local cash-starved Municipal Corporation has written to the UT Administration for the grant Rs26 crore on account of electricity duty.

It has been mentioned in the communication that as per the provision under Section 90 (6) C of the Punjab Municipal Act, the corporation has to be given the amount of electricity duty. The annual amount comes out to be Rs26 crore. The civic body had approved the same at its annual budget.

“We have written to the Admin to give our due share as per the Act,” confirmed an official. The MC for the first time had made a separate provision for this duty in the budget.

Councillor Satish Kainth said: “I had raised the issue with the MC. Following which, a separate arrangement was made for the duty in the budget. But, due to the failure of the local MP and the Mayor, we could not get funds under electricity duty, Excise Department, Registerating and Licensing Authority (RLA) as also failed to get Fourth Delhi Finance Commission recommendations implemented."

The corporation in February cleared a Rs670-crore deficit Budget for the fiscal 2021-22 in its usual anticipation of getting grant-in-aid as per the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission recommendations, just like previous years. But, it has not happended during the five-year BJP MC rule despite assurances by all five Mayors. Mayor Ravi Kant Sharma said they would certinaly get funds under these heads and raise the issue with the Centre.