PANJIM: With focus on making urban local bodies self-sufficient, Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane has urged municipalities to take up revenue-generating projects.
The Minister will also conduct the audit of all the projects, which have failed to generate income for the municipalities, so far.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
On Tuesday, Rane chaired a meeting with Secretary Urban Development, Director of Municipal Administration, Chief Officers (CO) and Mayor of Panjim City Corporation.
During the meeting, directions were issued to introduce facility to make available the death and birth certificates online and also the trade licences.
Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Rane said that there are several projects taken up by the municipalities on revenue generation ground but failed to get any income so far.
“We will conduct audit of such projects,” he said adding that the municipalities need to focus on becoming self-sufficient and for which revenue-generating projects should be encouraged.
He said that the municipalities are asked to submit the proposals on revenue generation. The Minister has also asked all municipalities to complete their audited balance sheet within 30 days as required under 15th Finance Commission.
He said that funds under it would be released only after the audited balance sheet is submitted.
“We have also taken a decision that those municipalities fail to submit utilisation certificates (UCs), will not be entitled for any further grants or funds,” he said.
Stating that the meeting was held to streamline the functioning of the municipalities, Rane said that the decision has been taken to provide birth and death certificates online and also the trade licences.
“A monthly review meeting with COs and chairpersons will be held to oversee the functioning and work out solutions to any problems,” he said.
The municipalities are also directed to conduct awareness drives on single-use plastic ban.
