LUCKNOW, Sept. 6 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has disbursed Rs.477 crore to 17 municipal corporations across the state on the recommendations of the 5th State Finance Commission, with the aim of strengthening basic infrastructure and services in urban local bodies, officials said. Anuj Jha, director of the Directorate of Local Bodies, has instructed all municipal commissioners to ensure that the funds are utilised promptly and effectively for developmental works within their jurisdictions. The distribution reflects both population size and civic needs, with Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) receiving the highest share of Rs.72 crore. Kanpur has been allotted Rs.62 crore, followed by Varanasi (Rs.42 crore), Ghaziabad (Rs.39 crore) and Prayagraj (Rs.38 crore). Meerut and Agra have received Rs.30 crore and Rs.29 crore, respectively. A sum of Rs.21 crore each has been given to Aligarh, Bareilly and Moradabad, Rs.20 crore to Gorakhpur, and Rs.8 crore to Shahjahanpur. Among others, Firozabad has been granted Rs.13 crore, Jhansi Rs.12 crore, Mathura Rs.17 crore and Ayodhya Rs.8 crore, officials said. The municipalities are expected to utilise the funds for developmental initiatives such as road repairs, sanitation, street lighting, and public service delivery....