PANJIM: With the financial year nearing an end, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) is still fighting for sanction of Rs 20 crore grants from the 2016-17 budgetary provision made for them. The amount includes the salary grant of Rs 10.65 crore. 

Panjim Mayor Surendra Furtado, in a letter to Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) on Friday, sought the sanction of Rs 20 crore grants for the corporation as earmarked in the State Budget. 

“The current financial year will soon expire on March 31 and the allocation of the budget provisions is to be utilised before the said date. Hence, we request to kindly put up the proposal before the government for immediate release of funds,” the Mayor said. 

The works identified for sanction of funds include developmental works in various wards amounting to Rs 6.30 crore, land acquisition for development and beautification of Miramar to the tune of Rs 30.30 lakh, procurement of weed cutting machines and maul pole pruners at cost of Rs 6.63 lakh, procurement of brush chipper at Rs 85.68 lakh, procurement of water tanker and JCB at Rs 43.12 lakh. The total sanction for various works stands at Rs 11.86 lakh.

Furtado also pointed out that non release of salary grants since 2013-14 has led to a major financial burden. “The major portion of the revenue earned by the CCP by way of house tax, licence fees and others taxes is spent on salaries of the staff, cleaning of the city and routine development and maintenance works in the city,” he said. 

The Corporation has failed to receive salary grants for the year 2013-14 and 2014-15 and some dues for 2010-11 and 2011-12, which amount to Rs 10.65 crore. “As such, we are not in position to take up any major development activities without the support and financial assistance from the government,” the Mayor stated.