Will request Centre to release funds directly to MCDs: Arya

The newly elected mayor of South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Subhash Arya (73) has emphasised that he would request the Central government to release funds directly to MCDs if Aam Aadmi Party government continues to hold legitimate share of civic bodies. Arya defeated Congress’ Farhad Suri with a huge margin of 19 votes while five MLAs and a councillor of AAP abstained from voting.

  

“It’s not a matter of political party but of institution. The present AAP government is following the foot steps of previous Congress government and is sitting on legitimate revenue share of civic bodies. We have no option but to demand the Central government to release our share of funds directly to MCDs,” said Subhash Arya. 

When asked if it was possible, Arya replied: “We had secured Rs 100 crore in 1999 directly. The Central government has the power to slice budget of MCDs from the pool allocated to Delhi government and release it directly to the MCDs,” argued Arya. 

He also demanded the government to implement the recommendations of Delhi Finance Commission at the earliest. 

“DFC has recommended greater financial autonomy for civic bodies. If implemented, MCDs share in state’s taxes would increase from existing 5.5 percent to 12.5 percent,” argued Arya. He is the senior most councillor among the three MCDs and also considered BJP’s voice on civic matters. 

Arya is also holding the charge of Chairman of the Standing Committee in South MCD for which he was elected in 2015. 

Earlier, he had also held the charge of Leader of House and Leader of Opposition. “I want the Corporation to be self-reliant and develop it as a model Corporation,” said Arya.  

Enumerating his priorities as mayor, Arya said self-reliance, transparency, sanitation, education and maintenance of parks would be his preferences. 

The mayor also requested the co-operation from the opposition benches to fulfill the goals of the Corporation. 

The post of Mayor sees five single-year terms on a rotation basis, with the first year being reserved for women, the second for open category, third for reserved category, and the remaining two also being in open category. 

This year it was open category, while last year it was for the reserved category.