Eye on polls, South Corporation to hike fund for illegal colonies

Delhi/NCR
Even as PM Narendra Modi in his speech on January 10 emphasized on development in slums and unauthorized colonies, BJP in South Delhi Municipal Corporation has plans to hike its funds for unauthorized colonies and rural wards from Rs 65 crore to Rs 125 crore. In what is being seen as a tactic to woo 40 lakh voters residing in these areas, senior BJP politicians have instructed councillors to immediately carry out development work.

South Corporation will pass the budget for financial year 2015-16 in the House meeting to be held on January 12. "We have increased the budget as no major development projects were taken up. The money will be spent on improvement of roads, sanitation, streetlights and for carrying out other maintenance work," a BJP councillor said.

Congressmen in the corporation say the budget is clearly aimed to woo voters. "With elections in Delhi near, it's no coincidence that BJP is suddenly thinking about the slums and unauthorized colonies. The corporation has failed to keep these areas clean, which is their basic function, let alone take care of their development. This is a political gimmick and just a way to woo the voters," said Farhad Suri, leader of Opposition, South Delhi Municipal Corporation.

Defending the move, a BJP functionary said south Delhi has a lot of unauthorized colonies and councillors weren't able to spend funds in these but now developmental works will be taken up by the corporation.

The budget this time will also have a separate head for water harvesting and has earmarked around Rs 5 crore for it. "To conserve water, the corporation will ensure water harvesting provisions be present in all corporation buildings. Such buildings will get benefits," said the BJP office-bearer.

Source:http://content.magicbricks.com/industry-news/delhi-ncr-real-estate-news/eye-on-polls-south-corporation-to-hike-fund-for-illegal-colonies/79998.html