To further increase the revenue and to strengthen the basic infrastructure of Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayat

Chandigarh: To further increase the revenue and to strengthen the basic infrastructure of Municipal Corporations, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats, the Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra today held a high-powered meeting with 6th Punjab Finance Commission.

While presiding over the meeting, Brahm Mohindra said that urbanization and economic growth are intertwined together with a city, as the impetus for growth generally comes from the urban sector, so the core mandate of the State Finance Commission is to make recommendations on the distribution should be rationalized between the state and Local Bodies (Rural and Urban) of the net proceeds of taxes, duties, tolls and fees levies in view of sustainable development goals.

Brahm Mohindra

Echoing to accelerate the revenue generation of ULBs, Mohindra said that here today we had discussed key issues with the commission to recommend concrete measures which may help improve the financial position of the two sets of local bodies through better management of their resources and reduction in unproductive expenditure aiming to increase revenue with the existing resources.

He also asked the Secretary, Local Government Ajoy Kumar Sinha to examine the model of other States to set benchmarks for quality services and generating sufficient funds for better management of urban and rural bodies.

Suggesting the formula of fund distribution, Secretary/Chairman of 6th Punjab Finance Commission KR Lakhanpal said that the fund distribution should be based on their respective shares of such proceeds: the determination of the taxes, duties tolls and fees.

Brahm MohindraHe also echoed to create a special statuary body for supervision for fund management as if GST and other funds either denied or delayed then this designated body would set the accountability of the concerned departments.

Member, 6th Punjab Finance Commission G. Vajralingam, Special Secretary, Finance Abhinav Trikha, Director Local Government Puneet Goyal and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.