Amid a tussle over release of funds, the Delhi government's finance department has released Rs 535 crore to the Delhi Jal Board for nearly 70 projects of the agency, officials said on Thursday.
Delhi Water Minister Atishi had last month claimed that the national capital was staring at a "man-made water crisis" due to the stoppage of funds to the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) by the finance department and demanded Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena's immediate intervention.
"The file for release of funds came on December 7 and the funds were sanctioned on December 9. These are from the second installment of funds that are supposed to be released to the DJB," said a government official.
Amid an ongoing tussle between the Centre and Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi Finance and Services Minister Atishi in an affidavit submitted before the Delhi High Court said the Finance Secretary Ashish Chandra Verma is delaying the much-needed funds for the DJB. “Despite adherence to the prescribed payment schedule and timely submission of utilisation certificates and requisite details by the DJB on September 12, the Principal Secretary (Finance), Finance and Planning Department has persistently raised new and varied queries, impeding the release of the much-needed funds,” Atishi said in an affidavit. The AAP minister also claimed that she had asked the officers to look into the matter but to no avail. “I have repeatedly asked for the officers responsible for the alleged mismanagement to be identified and for recommendations for disciplinary action, to no avail. Neither have names been forwarded, nor has any action been initiated,” she said.
Earlier this month, DJB vice-chairman Somnath Bharti had said all maintenance and developmental works have "come to a standstill" due to the delay in disbursal of funds from the finance secretary.
"We have to release a total of Rs 2,200 crore to the Delhi Jal Board and out of that Rs 535 crore has been released. The finance department had informed the Delhi High Court about the release of funds on December 11," he added.
The government official said that there are about 70 projects for which these funds have been released. "These 70 projects have been geotagged and all their details were furnished to us. These include providing the DJB tankers for water supply and laying of sewer lines.
