Jharkhand is considering appointing Lokpals in its municipal bodies. The State Finance Commission has recommended this move, anticipating easier grievance redressal and increased government revenue.
Jharkhand: The Jharkhand government may soon make a major decision regarding the appointment of Lokpals in its municipal bodies. The Jharkhand State Finance Commission has recommended this, believing it will help resolve prevalent issues within these bodies. The Commission has recommended expediting the process of establishing Lokpals under the Jharkhand Municipal Act.
Potential for Grievance Redressal and Revenue Increase
The appointment of Lokpals will facilitate quicker resolution of citizen complaints. This is also expected to increase government revenue. The Commission suggested that all municipal bodies maintain accurate property records to ensure proper collection of property tax and other dues.
State's Financial Losses – A Concern for the Finance Commission
According to the Jharkhand State Finance Commission's recommendation, the state is incurring financial losses due to non-compliance with the Jharkhand Municipal Act. The Commission recommended a special drive to collect property tax from all properties. It also recommended appointing Jan Lokpals for the speedy resolution of disputes related to holding tax, water charges, and other issues.
Using New Technology for Accurate Property Assessment
The Commission advocated for using GIS mapping technology to create a proper record of all properties in urban areas, thereby making the tax collection process more transparent.
State Government Expenditure and Budget Management
The Jharkhand government had budgeted ₹1.28 lakh crore for the current fiscal year, but only ₹1.05 lakh crore has been spent so far. Saturday was the last day for withdrawals, after which only the surrender of pre-deposited funds is possible.
The state government has taken a loan of ₹3,000 crore before the end of the current fiscal year, which has been allocated to various departments. The final figures for the fiscal year are expected to be released by Monday.
