Port Blair, Dec 14: The Chairperson, Municipal Council accompanied by the Member of Parliament met the Chairman of Fourth Finance Commission for Union Territories Mr.Narayanaswamy in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi and submitted a charter of demands aimed at augmenting the devolution of funds that is allotted to the sole urban local body in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the Chairperson requested the finance commission to maintain the current provision of 35% that was recommended by the third finance commission before and laid emphasis on following the recommendations of the finance commission by the UT administration in letter and spirit. She also stressed upon the Finance Commission of the challenges faced by the current municipal council due to the addition of new areas under PBMC and sought for funds under Non-Plan head for maintenance of roads and bridges, buildings, etc constructed by PBMC which includes 73 km existing road included in PBMC after delimitation. Apart from this main issue, the Chairperson PBMC also highlighted other key issues and sought for additional funds for Slum Improvement in the 27 Identified Slums Clusters in the city and for improving the prevailing sanitation scenario in the city under Swatch Bharat Mission to make Port Blair open defecation free during the mission period. The 4th finance commission assured to make specific recommendation on the above issues.
During the visit, the Chairperson, PBMC also called on the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, Minister for Urban Development, Mr Venkaiah Naidu and Minister of Road, Highways and Transport, Mr Nitin Gadkari, Minister of State Home & Secretary Home (GOI).
