Uttar Pradesh: Fund crisis looming over 110 local bodies

LUCKNOW: Civic services across 110 towns in the state could suffer in the coming days. The 110 urban local bodies could be excluded from the grants being provided by the UP government as they did not roll out the e-vetan software for disbursement of salaries to the employees.
Despite regular reminders, the executive heads and officers deputed in the financial division of 110 local bodies failed to migrate to the online system by October 31, the final deadline issued by the directorate of local bodies in Lucknow. UP has a total of 763 local bodies and barring 110 the remaining have already moved to the technology based system.
"Shifting to the online system is important for centralised monitoring of funds. As anomalies and irregularities have been detected in the manual payments, the online system was made mandatory for all the local bodies in UP," said a senior officer, who added that the salary related funds were manipulated by showing that extra manpower was being hired on contract or extra shifts were shown to claim additional funds from the government.
The defaulters include Itaunja and Mohanlalganj in Lucknow. To ensure the local bodies adhere to the laid down protocol, the directorate of local bodies is considering holding back the funds being provided to the 110 towns by the state finance commission.
An officer from the urban development department said, "I am confident that the 110 local bodies will shift to the online system within a fortnight. They realise the importance of the grants being provided by the state finance commission."