66 urban local bodies across 34 dists to get extra funds for development | Lucknow News
Lucknow: More than 60 urban local bodies catering to the population in smaller towns could look forward to increased funding and budget.The urban development department has shortlisted 66 ULBs across 34 districts, which will benefit from Deen Dayal Upadhaya scheme in the coming months. Aimed at upgrading the nagar panchayats (town councils) having a population of not more than 50,000 people, an additional budget is provided to the ULBs by the urban development department to transform the localities that are situated in the rural or peri-urban areas into towns. The mandate given to the executive officers deputed in the nagar panchayats is to improve road conditions, drainage, streetlights, and common lights, among other basic amenities. Mohanlalganj in Lucknow, Nasirabad in Rae Bareli, Nigohi in Shahjahanpur, Barkhedra in Pilibhit, Nawabganj in Farrukhabad, Khirauni Suchitaganj in Ayodhya, Kaisarganj in Bahraich, and Karhal in Mainpuri are among the nagar panchayats which would get more funds. Pratapgarh district in Prayagraj administrative division stands to benefit the most, with five nagar panchayats taken up under the programme. Unnao, Bareli, Budaon, Deoria, Aligarh, and Meerut are among the districts where four ULBs have been shortlisted. Launched in March 2018 to provide a cushion to towns with limited capabilities, the scheme aims at fast-tracking development activities in a seamless manner. A senior officer from the department said that nagar panchayats having a population under 10,000 people would be entitled to get Rs 2 crore. The ones having a population size between 10,000 and 20,000 would get Rs 3 crore, whereas the ones having 20,000 to 50,000 people within their jurisdiction would be eligible to draw Rs 4 crore in two instalments. Meanwhile, acting on the proposals of the local administration, who carry out surveys to identify the backward localities where urgent infusion of budget is required, for the 2026-27 financial year, 44 nagar panchayats across 22 districts have been shortlisted so far.
