CHANDIGARH: Land measuring 31,455 acres was under unauthorised occupation in 507 gram panchayats in Punjab, while the urban local bodies faced a staff shortage between 34% to 44%, according to the annual technical inspection report of Panchayati Raj institutions for the period April 2019 to March 2022.
An audit of the ULBs revealed that user charges of Rs 510.56 crore on account of water supply and sewerage charges, house tax, property tax, rent from shops, and mobile tower charges were pending for recovery. The report, which was tabled in the Assembly on Tuesday, pointed out that four ULBs did not maintain records related to assets and available trees under their jurisdiction. As a result, the actual position of the assets and the illegal felling of trees could not be ascertained.
Also, there was underutilisation of funds by PRIs received under various centrally sponsored schemes, and there was a delay in the transfer of central finance commission grants.
