Arvind Sharma
Jammu Tawi, June 29: The lethargic approach of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has adversely affected different development projects of Jammu as the corporation failed to utilize Rs 289 crore central funds which were to be used for different development works in Jammu.
Sources informed that Government of India did not release funds for JMC as the corporation did not submit the Utilization Certificates (UCs) on time.
“One way or the other, we are responsible for lapse of central funds as we did not submit the UCs on time,” official sources informed the Northlines, while wishing anonymity.
“Despite repeated reminders by the central government, we could not timely submit the UCs, which cost us loss of such big funds meant for development,” they said.
Sources informed that the JMC was to get Rs 289 Cr funds for development under different heads which were stalled till 2018 due to non formation of the corporation.
Pertinently, these funds are specifically sanctioned by the central government for elected corporations and therefore, were pending since the last around 10 years as the JMC was not in place due to non holding of elections.
After 2005, the elections for JMC were held in 2018. For availing these specific central funds, the JMC did not submit the UCs on time since its formation in 2018, sources informed.
“We could only submit the UCs of around Rs 85 cr thus losing Rs 204 cr,” official sources informed.
It may be mentioned that that there are 75 wards falling under the jurisdiction of JMC and the different development works were to be undertaken in all these wards by utilizing these funds.
Mayor, JMC, Chander Mohan Gupta, however, said that the central funds have not lapsed.
“The JMC has not lost the central funds,” he told the Northlines.
However, as per the information gathered by the Northlines, the JMC is now no longer entitled to these central funds which, if utilized, could have changed the development scenario in Jammu.
