Days after public works department (PWD) issued a circular, saying that removing “unclaimed malba” (debris) from roads is an “obligatory function” of the corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation's (SDMC) mayor Narendra Chawla said the Delhi Government's apathy in releasing funds meant for the civic bodies is the main hurdle in ensuring regular business of the corporation.
He said that all three municipal corporations have been facing financial crunch as the Delhi Government is sitting over the funds provided by the Union Government in its budget for onward disbursal to the MCDs, adding that the SDMC will take up this issue with lieutenant Governor.
Chawla also said that the allocation of funds meant for sanitation has been scrapped by the Delhi Government. “The challenges being faced by the MCDs are becoming tough day by day as it is becoming difficult to release monthly salary to the safai karmcharis on regular basis,” he said.
He also alleged that the debris generated due to construction of the PWD projects piled up on the roads for months that further eclipsing the cleanliness of the city and malign the image of the civic bodies.
Explaining it further, he said that the Government has not released a single penny instead it has scrapped an amount of Rs. 340 crore under sanitation head. “It is withholding an amount of Rs 709.99 cr, allocation Rs. 1246.56 Cr. and actual grant Rs. 536.63 crore in respect of financial year 2017-18,” he said.
He further said that only an amount of Rs.137.59 Cr released out of an allocation of Rs. 1579.19 Cr during the first five months of financial year2018-19.
Chawla said that the SDMC has been striving hard to meet its challenges and improve the level of sanitation despite its limited resources “The remarkable improvement of swachh ranking of the civic body from 204 to 32 is an evidence of dedicated efforts of the south body,” he said.