Let there be no role for Ministers in Spending BPS, LRS funds

The Lok Satta Party today took strong exception to the Government directive that funds accruing to municipalities and municipal corporations through Building Penalization and Layout Regularization Schemes shall be spent as decided by the district in-charge Ministers.

The G. O. No. 190 under which the Government released funds realized through BPS and LRS to civic bodies belatedly emasculates elected local governments as it provides for interference by in-charge Ministers.

Talking to the media, Lok Satta Party leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and P. Bhaskara Rao demanded that the civic bodies be enabled to spend the amounts in consultation with colony/apartment welfare associations in the absence of elected ward committees.

The party leaders referred to large-scale abuse of power in the implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by Ministers and said that history would repeat itself if Ministers were to be provided for a role in spending BPS/LRS funds.

On Government advice to civic bodies to raise their revenue through higher taxes etc, the Lok Satta leaders pointed out that the people were opposed to higher taxes since they had lost faith in the civic bodies’ ability to deliver quality services through proper funds’ utilization.