Santosh Lad to take up with Chief Minister the issue of streamlining funds allocations in local bodies

Labour Minister and Dharwad district in-charge Santosh Lad has said that he will take up with the Chief Minister the issue of formulating a law to streamline the allocation of grants in a systematic manner in local bodies and also in government departments. He was chairing a review meeting in Hubballi.

Labour Minister and Dharwad district in-charge Santosh Lad has said that he will take up with the Chief Minister the issue of formulating a law to streamline the allocation of grants in a systematic manner in local bodies and also in government departments.

He was chairing a review meeting on various development works of Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) in Hubballi on Monday where several of the municipal council members raised their voice against the indiscriminate manner in which funds were allocated.

Raising the issue, BJP councillor Thippanna Majjagi pointed out that funds under 15th State Finance Commission have not been distributed uniformly.

“Earlier the Mayor, the Opposition Leader and te Floor Leader used to finalise together allocations based on priority and this procedure was followed this time also. However, now several changes have been made in allocations,” he said.

Responding to the charge, MLA Prasad Abbayya said that as several councillors have complained that several projects have been approved without any discussion and that they have not received any grants for their wards, he advised change of projects.

He said that every ward should get funds equally and if project implementation got delayed, then HDMC will not get any performance grant. For the last two-three years, the municipal corporation has not received any performance grant, he said.

The former Mayor Viranna Savadi said that as meetings of all party leaders are not being held on development works, they are facing problems and urged Mr. Abbayya to chair such meetings to resolve the issues.