more-inThere is much clamour among the opposition BJP with regard to the dramatic rise in the Mayor’s Discretionary Grants, which have been increased to ₹345.5 crore, a 185.5% jump from ₹160 crore that was earmarked in last year’s budget. Apart from ₹160 crore, ₹143.5 crore (under the 14th Finance Commission) and ₹42 crore (under the State Finance Commission) is now under the Mayor’s Discretionary Grants. Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy maintained that this is perhaps the ‘highest allocation’ to the discretionary grants. “The Mayor’s post is an honourable one, and such a huge allocation gives rise to chances of misuse,” he said. “Since such a huge amount of grants is under the discretion of the Mayor, it gives rise to favouritism.

Source: The Hindu February 28, 2018 16:07 UTC