The Delhi Government adopted a resolution on Tuesday on alleged mismanagement of civic agencies. The House resolved that a fact finding committee be immediately constituted by the Government under the chairmanship of the Director of local Bodies, GNCTD to look into the issues pertaining to the Municipal Corporations and table its report in this House in the next session.
“This House takes serious note of the extremely poor financial management in the Municipal Corporations of Delhi, particularly in the East Delhi Municipal Corporation and the North Delhi Municipal Corporation. This House condemns the sorry state of affairs that has led to non-payment of salaries of employees in these two corporations, particularly the sanitation workers and the resultant hardships being faced by the residents of Delhi due to piled up garbage and other related problems.”
The resolution was moved by Saurabh Bhardwaj, MlA representing Greater Kailash constituency and was seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia
“This House noted that the MCDs have failed to pay the salaries of their employees despite having received enhanced funds from the Government and the residents of Delhi have a right to know how the MCDs are utilising these fundsIJ”
The resolution stated that the MCDs should take urgent and effective measures to improve their financial health and ensure that residents of Delhi get basic facilities that they are entitled to as tax payers.
It directed the 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 and also asked to direct the Municipal Corporations to inform about the steps taken to improve their financial condition.
The resolution moved after EDMC officials denied to receive its due. Earlier in a joint Press conference all the three Mayors alleged that the corporations were not given the Rs 2,380 crore as per the recommendations of the third Finance Commission.
However, the allegations of the Delhi Government have been rebutted by the EDMC officials who maintained that there was no scope for salaries for employees in the funds that had been allotted to them. “Our monthly expenditure is around Rs 130 crore and revenue is Rs 30 crore annually. We face revenue deficit every year and in these circumstances we cannot pay them regularly.”
Senior officials of all three corporations said the recommendation of the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission (DFC) should be implemented. They said according to it the share would be increased to 12 per cent as against 4 per cent recommended by the third DFC. They further said the fourth DFC implemented Delhi entertainment and betting tax should be assigned to municipalities. “Once these recommendations are implemented our financial crunch will end,” they added.