The 14 Finance Commission has assured Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain the release of funds to the tune of Rs.424.59 crore due under the 13 Finance Commission to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
The Mayor, who submitted proposals under 14 Finance Commission on Friday, said the Chairman had also assured the release of the earlier dues to the municipal corporation.
Mr. Majid Hussain brought to the commission’s notice about the ‘meagre’ allocations to the civic body despite 70 per cent of the government GDP being collected from them. The GHMC could not get any funds under the 11 and the 12 Finance Commissions and while Rs.505.68 crore were allotted under the 13 Finance Commission, only Rs.81.09 crore was released, he said.
He submitted a proposal for Rs. 2,736 crore for remodelling and construction of storm water drains, construction of flyovers, road over bridges, elevated corridors, major and link roads and phase-1 of the Musi revitalisation project. Other projects mentioned under the proposal include road infrastructure improvements, intelligent transport system infrastructure, street lighting, integrated municipal solid waste management, parks, biodiversity parks, avenue plantations, women empowerment, and welfare of senior citizens.
The GHMC’s revenue earned from sources such as property tax, town planning fees and trade licences along with funds allocated from government was being spent for citizen services. The expenditure itself was around Rs.1,100 crore per annum out of total revenues of Rs.1,800 crore which left no more than Rs.500 crore to Rs.600 crore for the new capital works, he said.
