Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday trashed the allegations being levelled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled East Delhi Municipal Corproration (EDMC) that his Government was not sanctioning required funds to pay salaries of the municipal staff. Kejriwal accused BJP led municipal corporation of playing dirty politics on sanitation workers issues.
The Delhi Government spokesperson said the Government has provided Rs 770 crore to East MCD alone so far this year. “East MCD getting double the amount now than what it got in BJP rule during 2014-15 then MCDs are silent on Rs 5,000 crore they can get from the Central Govt? CM Kejriwal said in a Press statement.
Earlier, Kejriwal met representatives of several unions of sanitation workers and placed facts related to funds released by the Delhi Government to the MCDs till date.
Clarifying facts on funds disbursed to MCDs, the Government in its official statement sated that in 2014-15, when BJP was controlling Delhi in President’s rule, the fund given to East MCD was Rs 396 crore, and Rs 45 crore was deducted as recovery of loan and in comparison, during 2017-18, Delhi Government provided Rs 724 crore to EDMC and no interest on outstanding loan was deducted by the Delhi Government.
“How is it possible that the EDMC which could pay salaries in 2014-15 in half the funds that it got from Delhi Government then and
now unable to do so when it is getting almost double the amount? the Government official asked. Why was there no strike in 2014-15 over the sanitation workers salaries?, he asked.
It may be noted, EDMC sanitation workers, were on strike for the last three weeks and on Thursday staged a protest near the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for their demands.
The employees are on strike since September 12 demanding regular payment of salaries and regularisation of workers. “Sanitation workers are protesting outside my residence. BJP has misled them. I am going to talk to them and present facts before them. I am really worried about the
sanitation arrangements in the city and the workers. They have to protest every two months to get their salaries,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Explaining further on the release of funds to civicagencies, the Government official said that for the current financial year, the Delhi government has already released Rs 440 crore to East MCD within first six months, and the excuse is being given that they don’t have money to pay salaries?
On Wednesday, Delhi government informed to Supreme Court that it is providing an additional Rs 330 crore to EDMC alone to enable it to pay salaries of sanitation workers. From the facts of funds provided to East MCD, it is clear that money is being diverted for payment of contractors and sanitation workers are not being paid their salaries, the official alleged.
Pertinently, as per the 14th Finance Commission, the central government is supposed to provide Rs 488 per person to every municipality in the country.
“It is beyond any reasonable understanding that given the fact that when there is a BJP government at the Centre and this party also controls the MCDs, then why is the Centre not providing this amount to the MCDs ? asked the spokesperson.