Delhi: 

Crorepatis: Vijender Gupta (left) and Jai Kishan Sharma

In a move being termed as politically motivated ahead of assembly elections which are slated to be held later this year, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi decided to increase the annual fund for councillors by Rs one crore.

 Now, the city councillors would get Rs 2 crore for the development in their areas. Last year, the BJP-led MCD has increased the fund from Rs 70 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Fund reviewed

In 2006, after the reorganisation of wards in the city, the then ruling Congress had reduced the amount to Rs 50 lakh from Rs 1 crore.

The Standing Committee on Wednesday passed a proposal to increase the amount to Rs 2 crore. Standing Committee chairperson Vijender Gupta said that the councillors would get more money for the development of their areas.  "Councillors will not face any financial constraints. They will now be able to undertake more works of public welfare.

They will also have discretion to select the work which is to be done on priority basis. They will also not feel harassed and get more money," said Gupta.

He said that it was the fiscal management of the BJP-led MCD due to which the civic body presented a budget of Rs 5,000 crores for the year 2008-09. "The same fiscal management has enabled us to now raise the local area development fund to Rs 2 crore which is an achievement for the MCD," Gupta said.

Gupta further said the allegations in this regard are baseless as Congress corporators would also have more money to develop their areas. "The money has not been increased only for BJP councillors. It will be equal for all. So, I don't see politics behind it," he claimed.

Politically motivated

Leader of Opposition in the MCD house Jai Kishan Sharma said that it is a politically motivated move aimed at wooing the people in an election year. "The money was collected by levying conversion charges in Delhi, and should be spent here only," said Sharma.

More welfare works

However, councillors were upbeat over the move.

"It will help in doing more public welfare works. Now we will not face funds crunch. The city will get a facelift," said Savita Gupta, BJP councillor from  Paschim Vihar.

Chairman, MCD Education Committee, Prithvi Raj Sahni said that developmental work will get an impetus in the city. "MPs and MLAs get Rs 2 crore for their areas. Now a councillor will get the same amount for their ward. It will change the face of the city," said Sahni.