Misuse of funds: Srinagar mayor denies BJP councillor’s allegation

Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu said these were attempts by the NC and the BJP to destabilise the civic body

Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu on Thursday refuted the allegations of BJP councillors that funds were being misused by the municipal corporation.

Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu addressing a press conference in Srinagar on Thursday. (ANI)

In a press conference, he said these were attempts by the NC and the BJP to destabilise the civic body.

“We have investigated and received horrendous proof against NC leaders and their sons,” Mattu said.

“There were allegations that a large number of development works were done in a particular area of Srinagar, which are baseless,” he added.

On November 15, BJP councillor Nazir Gilkar had said, “About ₹38 crore has come for constructing roads, but ₹31 crore was used in only two constituencies -- Zadibal and Hazratbal. Out of that, about ₹4 crore was used in a green belt. The amount should have been distributed among eight constituencies. The central government’s funds were misused.”

“The mayor has to contest elections from these constituencies, where he is using the government’s money,” he had alleged.

Mattu, meanwhile, said they had presented works for ₹120 crore, but only ₹40 crore was approved.

He did not challenge the claim of works being done in the green belt, but said such works were also carried out in other such areas like Ishber, Nishat and Dalgate.