Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to release Rs 383.74 crore to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) under education and health heads, pointing out that it has been pending for two years. Sharing the letter on Twitter, the Lieutenant Governor’s office said that Saxena has asked for the release of the fund meant to be spent on education and health and added that holding the fund “without any reason” was adversely impacting primary education and health in Delhi.
“It has been brought to LG notice that Rs 383.74 crores for the years 2020-21 and 2021-22 under the plan heads of Urban Development, Education and Medical, has not been released to the erstwhile SDMC, NMC and EDMC by the Urban Development Department of Delhi Government,” the letter reads referring to the Delhi government. “As against the revised budget estimate approved of Rs 3768.64 crore under the above plan heads during the financial year 2020- 2021 only Rs 3384.90 was released resulting in the shortfall of Rs 383.74 crore,” the letter further adds.
The letter points out that the MCD is entrusted with the responsibility of provision of various public services and facilities to the citizens of Delhi including primary health, education, sanitation, roads, parks etc. “The grant is essentially required for operation and development of infrastructure related to schools, hospitals, dispensaries, roads, footpaths etc which impact the daily life of the citizens of Delhi.
It need not be emphasized that the budget estimates were voted and approved by the Delhi Legislative Assembly and it was incumbent upon the Urban Development Department to timely release the funds to the MCD,” the letter read. “However it was not done despite several requests and due to non release of funds the provision of various public services by MCD is being adversely impacted causing inconvenience to the citizens of Delhi,” it read. “Therefore in the interest of the citizens of Delhi, I will request you to ensure that Rs.383.74 Crores for the Financial Years that is 2020-21 and 2021-22 unfairly withheld by the Urban Development Department is made available to the civic body at the earliest,” he said.