Body to probe ‘cash-strapped’ civic bodies

New Delhi: Attacking the Opposition on the rampant corruption and mismanagement of funds in the municipal corporations, the Delhi Assembly with a majority of AAP legislators passed a resolution to constitute a fact-finding committee to probe the financial condition of “cash-strapped” civic bodies of EDMC and NDMC. The committee will be headed by the director of local bodies. It will submit its report before the commencement of the Budget session, which is expected to be held in the first week of March.

The Opposition led by Vijender Gupta, however, denied the allegations and demanded that the recommendations of the Fourth Pay Commission be implemented by the Delhi government.

The resolution, moved by AAP MLA Sourabh Bhardwaj, stated that MCD has “failed” to pay the salaries of its employees despite having received enhanced funds from the government, and that the residents have a right to know how the civic bodies were utilising their funds.

“This House directs the Delhi government to take all possible steps to look into the finances of the MCDs in accordance with the provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957. It also directs the government of Delhi to ask the municipal corporations to inform the steps being taken to improve the latter’s financial condition,” the resolution stated.

Deputy CM Manish Sisodia said the BJP-led civic bodies had financially “failed” and were “instigating” their employees against the AAP government ahead of the municipal polls.

He said despite the Delhi government giving enhanced funds in comparison to the previous dispensation, the BJP-led municipal corporations were demanding more grants. Once the Aam Aadmi Party comes to power in all three civic bodies, it will ensure salaries of sanitation workers on time, Mr Sisodia added.

Participating in the discussion, AAP legislators Ajay Dutt, Nitin Tyagi, Rajesh Gupta and Somnath Bharti questioned the functioning of the municipal corporations. Urban development minister Satyendra Jain, while replying to the discussion, said that the strike called by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation was “sponsored.” “As the Punjab elections are near, such incidents are bound to increase,” he said. He added that advertisements and billboard scams have run the corporations dry worth crores and the civic bodies are now indulging in a garbage scam.