Cash-strapped East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has adopted austerity measures, including restricting or banning the leave travel concession, media and telephone reimbursements, study leave, inaugurations, refreshments, etc to sustain itself financially.
Additional Commissioner of EDMC Dr Brajesh Singh said that the austerity measures have been taken in wake of the acute shortage of funds with the Corporation. He said that even though the revenue collected by the civic body has increased but it is not sufficient enough to cover the acute financial deficit.
“The civic body has not received financial support from the Government as recommended by the Delhi Finance Commission (DFC) that further led to financial imbroglio,” he said.
He further said the EDMC is forced to curtail its expenditure considering its poor financial condition. The move is expected to save up to Rs 40-50 crore in a year, he said.
Singh also said that the restrictions would be implemented for a period of one year initially as the Delhi Government has failed to implement the recommendations of 4th and 5th DFC. “The government had released Rs 280 crore last year in which Rs 140 cr was allotted for disbursement of salary and remaining Rs 140 cr was meant for maintaining sanitation issues in its areas. But this year, no funds have been released in these areas, forcing the civic body to take austerity measures,” he added.
Every year, the sanitation workers of EDMC go on strike, demanding regular payment of salaries, clearance of dues and regularisation of sanitation workers. With the regular strike, the trans-Yamuna region of the national Capital faces serious garbage disposal and health crisis.
EDMC sanitation workers had gone on strike on September 12 this year, demanding regular payment of salaries and regularisation of workers. Citing impediment in conducting its businesses, the civic body had terminated the services of 26 contractual sanitation workers and suspended 17 others, with immediate effect citing creating an obstruction in work. The decision was revoked later after workers returned back to the job.
Blaming the State Government, EDMC mayor Bipin Bihari had said that the corporation is not able to pay its employees and workers since it has not received any funds from the Delhi Government.
Earlier in October this year, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused BJP led Municipal Corporation of playing dirty politics on sanitation workers issues. The Delhi government had said it had released Rs 770 crore to the Corporation in the current fiscal.
The EDMC annual deficit has increased to ?3,500 crore. It has been financially strapped since its formation in 2012. The corporation has been unable to initiate developmental work and failed in providing civic amenities in the scarcity of funds.