The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC), which is undergoing problems of severe fund crunch, has finally heaved a sigh of relief after the State Government released Rs 5 Crore to tide over the prevailing situation recently. The Government has released the money as part of the GMC's dues pending with the State Government since the last many years. A GMC official while talking to this correspondent said that the Government has released the money from the Motor Vehicle tax collected by it in the city. "Though dues amounting to an estimated Rs 25 crore is still pending with the Government, nevertheless, the corporation would be able to solve a few problems with the fund,' the official said. Out of the money released GMC has planned to give Rs 3 lakh to each of the councillors for development activities in their respective wards. The GMC, at present, has 60 wards. "This will be one-time payment to the councillors and would be utilized for taking up development activities. With the rest of money we will try to meet our liabilities including the salary of our staff,' the official said. Though GMC sees it as a reprieve, the councillors are unhappy over its failure to keep up its promises to provide the annual development funds of Rs 5 lakh for taking up development activities in each wards of the city. They say in 2004 the corporation had agreed to provide funds of Rs 5 lakh to each councillor annually from the Rs 2.2 crore annually it collects as Motor Vehicle Tax but have failed to release the funds regularly since 2004. A councillor mentioned since 2004, they had received only Rs 3 lakh annually, which has come as major deterrent for them to take up development activities. "Our wards have numerous problems like deplorable roads, drains and many do not have street lights. People are blaming us and we often have to face the public ire, but we are helpless as funds are not released properly,' another councillor rued.