LUCKNOW LIKELY TO HAVE TWO CIVIC BODIES SOON

LUCKNOW : Given the fast expansion of the city, the state capital is likely to have two civic bodies in days to come as the state urban development department is mulling over the proposal of bifurcation of Lucknow into trans-Gomti and cisGomti municipal corporations.

“Following the expansion of municipal limits from 310 square kilometre to 568 square kilometre, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) is finding it hard to ensure civic development with limited staff and revenue,” said an LMC official on the condition of anonymity. The LMC is now packed with 4 PCS officers and the municipal commissioner (an IAS officer) while there used to be only one or two officers of such ranks earlier, say insiders while hinting at the increasing volume of work.

“The municipal limits have increased and LMC is finding it hard to manage the civic services. The bifurcation is on the cards. With two mayors and two municipal commissioners, the development work in the city can be performed at a much faster pace,” said leader of opposition in LMC House Sayyed Yawar Hussain Reshu.

“Even urban development minister Ashutosh Tandon has held a meeting for the bifurcation of LMC,” said Lucknow mayor Sanyukta Bhatia. Municipal commissioner, Lucknow, Ajay Dwivedi said, “It is up to the government to decide on the division of Lucknow Municipal Corporation.”

It is pertinent to mention here that LMC has liabilities of around Rs 200 crore and it is always short of funds for the development works. The LMC always looks upon the state government for state finance commission grants. Bonds issued by the LMC listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange in December last year raised Rs 200 crore for its housing and water line projects.