Lucknow: In a significant political development, BJP councilors in the state capital Lucknow boycotted the Municipal Corporation Executive Committee meeting, openly opposing the mayor. The discontent against the mayor had been simmering for almost a year, and issues such as the introduction of Ramky Company, interference in councilors’ allocated works, and attempts to remove sanitation agencies added fuel to the fire.
Last month, councilors staged a protest outside the mayor’s office over these concerns. Following the demonstration, the decision to remove sanitation agencies from their work was revoked. Additionally, the mayor’s development fund had been increased from ₹25 crore to ₹35 crore two years ago, which had irked councilors across all parties.
Mayor’s Strategy Fails, Budget Not Passed
The mayor’s attempt to get the budget approved during the Municipal Corporation Executive Committee meeting completely failed. She arrived at the municipal corporation office at 9 AM, accompanied by two executive members. However, the meeting hall was empty, with neither members of her own BJP party nor the opposition Samajwadi Party present.
She waited for the members and started calling them at around 10 AM, only to find that their phones were switched off. Realizing that the absence was intentional, she returned to her chamber with Municipal Commissioner Indrajit Singh. By 11:30 AM, she officially postponed the meeting and scheduled the next one for March 18.
Quota for Councilors Despite No Legal Provision
The Municipal Corporation Act does not have provisions for allocating development funds (quota) to councilors and the mayor. However, this system has been in place for 36 years, and during this period, the allocated funds have increased 1,500 times. Multiple irregularities have been reported regarding the use of these funds.
For instance, the mayor herself had identified instances where good-condition roads were unnecessarily reconstructed to exhaust the budget. Currently, each councilor receives ₹1.5 crore annually for development projects in their wards. Even in areas that require less funding, the same amount is allocated.
This quota allocation has also contributed to the increasing debt of the municipal corporation. While the corporation’s revenue is approximately ₹800 crore, its annual expenditure stands at ₹1,500 crore. Contractors alone are owed around ₹200 crore.
Quota Allocation Over the Years
An experienced councilor recalled that in 1989, when each ward had two councilors, the allocated fund was ₹1 lakh. It increased to ₹5 lakh in 1995, ₹20 lakh in 2000, and ₹35 lakh in 2006. By 2012, the quota had reached ₹50 lakh, and in 2017, it rose to ₹85 lakh. In 2024, the fund was further increased to ₹1.5 crore, and councilors are now demanding another hike.
Quota Given Different Names to Avoid Legal Issues
According to the Municipal Corporation Act, councilors are referred to as “public servants” rather than “public representatives,” and there is no legal provision for quota allocations. The Act only allows for development work based on councilors’ recommendations. To avoid legal complications, these funds are often termed “Ward Development Priority Fund” or “Development Work Sanctioned on Councilor’s Recommendation.” However, both councilors and employees commonly refer to it as a “quota” in informal discussions.
