Will release Rs 500 cr to clear salary arrears: CM
9 Jun 2015 5:40 AM IST
“We have decided to release Rs 500 crore to the North and East Delhi Municipal Corporations,” Kejriwal told a gathering of sanitation workers at the Ramlila Maidan. He asked the workers to stage <g data-gr-id="25">protest</g> outside the houses of Central ministers since the Municipal Corporations are controlled by the BJP.
Protesting over the non-payment of salaries, sanitation workers have stopped coming to work, leading to garbage piling up on roads across the national Capital. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which controls all three Municipal Corporations in the city, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of not releasing the money. Kejriwal on Monday blamed mishandling of finances by the corporations for the mess.
“We are releasing funds to the corporations to pay the salaries of all the employees till May 31. After that Delhi government will not be able to provide funds as we too are facing <g data-gr-id="26">financial</g> crisis,” said Arvind Kejriwal addressing a rally of sanitation workers of the two MCDs in Ramlila Ground.
“I will seek an appointment from Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and request him to release funds directly to the corporations,” added Kejriwal.
The Chief Minister also exhorted the mayors and councillors of all the parties to join him to lead a delegation to the Prime Minister on the issue. “I am sure he will find some solution. On behalf of employees, I will request the Prime Minister to release funds for salaries for one <g data-gr-id="64">year,”added</g> Kejriwal. The chief minister also announced that the money allotted to the MCDs will not be adjusted into <g data-gr-id="63">outstanding</g> loan but actually transferred into their accounts, a <g data-gr-id="60">long standing</g> demand of the corporations.
“The corporations can earn at least one thousand <g data-gr-id="58">crore</g> from hoardings in a <g data-gr-id="59">year</g> but they are getting just Rs 85 crore. A large number of hoardings in the city are illegal and money is being pocketed by the councillors,”alleged Kejriwal. He further added that his government had given more funds to MCDs than the previous government. “So far, we have released Rs 293 crore to East MCD and Rs 575 crore to North MCD in April-May which was only Rs 178 crore and Rs 327 crore in these two months in 2014,” informed Kejriwal.
He demanded the Central government part with at least half of the Rs 1.30 lakh crore it gets by <g data-gr-id="53">way</g> as taxes from Delhi to solve the financial crisis of Delhi government.
Next Story
