After a series of protests led by three MCDs demanding release of funds, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday reviewed the status of funds released to municipal corporations under Plan and Non-Plan heads.
The meeting was attended by senior officers of the Delhi Government, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and the three commissioners of civic bodies.
The Delhi Government released the position of funds as against revised estimates and said the entire amount of Rs 892.92 crores earmarked under proposed revised estimate for the North Delhi Municipal Corporation under Non-Plan has been released by the Government.
In case of East Delhi Municipal Corporation, the entire amount of Rs 465.53 crores has been released by the Government. South Delhi Municipal Corporation has been given Rs 668 crores i.e. 80 per cent, out of Rs 830.41 crores. The remaining amount will be released by January 19, 2016, following which funds under Non-Plan earmarked under proposed revised estimate will be released to all three municipal corporations.
“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has ensured that the remaining amount to be paid to the SDMC would be released,” said Puneet Kumar Goel, SDMC Commissioner.
In case of Education Sector under Plan, about 75 per cent of budgeted amount has been released to North Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation and in case of South Delhi Municipal Corporation, about 53 per cent of the budgeted amount has been released up to December 2015.
It was informed in the meeting that the Municipal Reform Fund can only be released in accordance with law and the corporations have failed to meet the requirement of surplus Budget, which is essential for seeking this fund, but the corporations are showing a deficit Budget.
South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Thursday released an advertisement urging the Delhi Government to implement Fourth Finance Commission so that the corporation could come out of the financial mess.