GURUGRAM: The Haryana Human Rights Commission ( HHRC ) has sent a notice to MCG , asking it why it has failed to utilise 75% of the funds allocated in 2018-19 budget. The commission observed that this is a sign of bad “governance”.The state rights panel took cognizance of a TOI report on this fiscal year’s budget spend, which was published on February 6. The corporation has spent only Rs 467 crore of the 1,884-crore budget for 2018-19, which is a mere 25%, and less than two months are left before the start of the next financial year when it is expected to come up with a new budget.The MCG, according to the commission, has failed to spend most of the money allocated for public benefits such as sanitation, water, roads, drainage and other basic amenities, which is the “primary duty of a municipal corporation”.“The commission is of the view that it’s a mandatory duty and responsibility of officials and elected representatives to carry out all development work in the city, and utilise most of the funds allocated for the financial year. It is because of sheer negligence, inaction and casual attitude of senior officials and elected representatives that they could not spend the allocated budget for the benefit of general public. In the previous year too, MCG had spent only 40% of allocated funds in the budget,” said Deep Mathur, a member of the state rights commission.Observing that it’s a violation of residents’ rights, the commission has taken a suo motu cognizance of the report published in TOI and sought a report from MCG commissioner, mayor, additional chief secretary of local bodies and the state government, explaining why funds were not spent. The authorities have been given six weeks’ time to respond. The rights panel has been receiving complaints on lack of basic amenities from residents also.MCG is the richest municipal corporation in the state, and its budget was raised to Rs 1,884 crore from Rs 1,400 crore in 2017-18. In the budget, while Rs 126 crore was allocated for sanitation, Rs 200 crore was granted for development and restoration of water bodies and Rs 100 crore for environment upgrade.The corporation has not taken up any major projects over the past one year, according to sources in the corporation. While the cultural centre has been delayed, the plan to have a modern slaughterhouse was later shelved and replaced with the empanelment of private slaughterhouses.Asked if the corporation has received the notice, MCG commissioner Yashpal Yadav told TOI, “We have not yet received any notice so far. The corporation will reply to the state rights commission’s queries once we receive the notice. We have time till March 31 to spend the funds. So it is premature to say anything. Secondly, the budget is just an estimate and projection. It is not an actual amount collected.”

Stay updated with all the Latest Gurgaon headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.