Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxenaon Monday approved the delegation of financial powers exceeding the current Rs 5 crore to the MCD Commissioner.   

According to officials of Raj Niwas, it is a step that will help ease the existing problem of municipal solid waste in the city due to non-existence of a Standing Committee in MCD and intransigence of the Delhi Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj for months together.

“It may be recalled that on 10th July, 2024, the MCD had moved to the GNCTD to delegate financial powers to the MCD as per the provisions of Section 202 of the DMC Act, 1957,” an official said.

He added that however, Bhardwaj had inordinately and without any explanation kept the file pending at his level, in the process severely affecting municipal services due to lack of financial sanction, since the Standing Committee was not in place.

“Thereafter, the LG Secretariat have recalled the file on two occasions invoking Rule 19(5) of ToBR.  However, the file was yet not sent by the Minister and yet remains untraceable,” another officer added.

He added, “Finally, in light of the dire circumstances therein, contracts for collection and transportation of municipal solid waste, street sweeping amounting to Rs 1137.98 crore, rate contract for setting up of waste to energy facility at Narela, Bawana at a cost of Rs 604.26 crore, rate contract for bio-mining of legacy waste at Singhola amounting to Rs 46.17 crore and bio-mining of legacy waste at three dump sites at Okhla – Rs 156.5 crore, Gazipur Rs 223.50 crore and Bhalswa amounting to Rs 223.50 Crore were approved today by LG by delegating these financial powers upon the MCD Commissioner.”

The official said that the proposal to this effect was again moved by MCD on September 5 to the GNCTD and was sent to the LG on Monday after approval of the Chief Minister.