Countering BJP’s demand for implementation of the recommendations of the Fourth Finance Commission, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that the Delhi Government would accept it only if the panel’s recommendation for handing over the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) is accepted by the Centre.
“The Fourth Finance Commission report was not implemented last year when Delhi was under President’s rule. Nor were the Municipal reforms funds released.”
“We are ready to implement the Fourth Finance Commission report only when the Centre hands over the DDA to us as recommended by the same report. Municipal reform funds are only for the purpose of reforms. It cannot be paid to corporations under loss. If salary is not paid to me for two months even I will be in distress. People have made up their mind. AAP will win whenever polls are held next.” Kejriwal said.
The Kejriwal Government has again appealed to the lieutenant- Governor Najeeb Jung, who is also the chairman of the DDA to direct it to clear the `15,75 crore property tax it owes to the three Municipal Corporations.
Also, the Delhi Government has decided to consider the demand of the doctors working in the hospitals run by the three corporations that these hospitals should be taken over by the Government.
Taking a dig at Kejriwal, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay said on Wednesday that when Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke he issued a political statement. Government has already accepted the recommendations of 4th Finance Commission meaning thereby the CM knows that the Municipal Corporations need about `12,000 crore for running the three Municipal Corporations smoothly. “The 4th Finance Commission has recommended about ` 80,00 crore per year for the Municipal Corporations and the Kejriwal Government has accepted this, then how can Kejriwal now talk about frauds in the Municipal Corporations instead of releasing justified funds to the Municipal Corporations IJ,” he said.
The Fourth Finance Commission recommended a slew of measures to make the three cash-strapped corporations financially stable. According to sources, the report recommends that the corporations should get a higher share in taxes collected by the State Government and 100 per cent grant-in-aid in education. Instead of 5.5 per cent, the commission recommends 12.5 per cent share in state taxes, duties, fees and toll.
Under the existing system, corporations get just 4 per cent of the taxes and 1.5 per cent under “global share” released by the Delhi Government-based on corporations’ performance in implementing municipal reforms.