Mumbai: BMC House on Tuesday approved a proposal to increase the annual discretionary ward development fund from Rs 60 lakh to Rs 1 crore, a 67% increase, potentially paving the way for corporators across political parties to receive the enhanced allocation.The resolution proposal, moved by BJP corporator Ashwini Mate, will now be sent to BMC commissioner Ashwini Bhide for her remarks.Corporators will have to wait for Bhide’s response before the proposal can be sent to the state government’s urban development department for final approval.The discretionary fund is used by corporators for urgent civic works in their wards, including road repairs, sanitation, public toilets, beautification of gardens and other local development works.Mate argued that the existing Rs 60 lakh allocation is inadequate amid rising inflation, construction material costs and labour expenses. Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress supported the proposal.The allocation for corporators has remained unchanged at Rs 60 lakh for the past 12 years. Of this, Rs 45 lakh is earmarked for toilet-related works and Rs 15 lakh for other development works.An official said that if the BMC chief gives a favourable opinion and the allocation is raised to Rs 1 crore, corporators will see a Rs 40 lakh increase in their discretionary fund.Dhaval Shah from Lokhandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association said, “Any spend by corporators should be linked to approval from local citizen bodies and no part of it should be spent for beautification.”
