Rs 493 cr not enough to pay sanitation workers, address immediate issues

Amid the announcement of immediate release of fund for salaries of <g data-gr-id="34">safai</g> <g data-gr-id="35">karmis</g> (sanitation workers) by the Delhi government,  Mayors of all three Corporations on Friday said that the Rs 493 crore released by the government is not enough to clear salaries of the employees up to May. 

North Delhi Mayor along with South Delhi Mayor and Leader of House of East Delhi Municipal Corporation met Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung over the issue.  

Mayor of North Corporation Ravinder Gupta said the full amount as announced by the Chief Minister at Ramlila Maidan be released immediately for smooth functioning of the Corporations and putting the services back on track. He said Rs 600 crore is immediately required for paying the salaries and disbursing pension. 

The Mayor also demanded that besides Rs 600 crore, the global share of Rs 300 crore for the quarter, out of Rs 1,200 crore annually, be also released to sustain the services.  

Mayor of South MCD Subhash Arya said the Delhi government has failed to release funds for employees and pension holders of SDMC and said it was an attempt to destabilize the body. 

Arya said the Delhi government is playing politics by not implementing the 4th Finance Commission report. He added that in the absence of funds for pension and the salary liability of the SDMC increasing, it will destabilize the finances of the South Corporation.  

Arya said in 2004, after the implementation of Unit Area Method, the government had assured compensation to the losses. But till 2011-12, a <g data-gr-id="28">short fall</g> of Rs 1,709 crore is due to be provided by the state government. 

For payment of money to the MCD contractor, Rs 300 crore need to be released under non-plan head, under waiver of plan loan and an added interest Rs 300.43 crore is due which is to be refunded to the Corporations. 

EDMC’s Leader of the House Ram Narayan Dubey said the government is playing flip-flop over this sensitive  issue while Delhiites have been left to suffer.