Delhi municipal bodies exploiting sanitation workers, says Manish Sisodia

New Delhi: Slamming the BJP controlled civic bodies of being the breeding houses of “grave corruption,” deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday announced a fresh fund of Rs 119 crore to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC). Mr Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said: “Enough funds have been given to the municipal bodies, but one doesn’t know where that money is being flushed out.”

The development came as the indefinite strike by the EDMC sanitation workers, which entered its third day on Sunday, had left the trans-Yamuna region reeling under a garbage crisis, with waste dumped in the open in several areas from Laxmi Nagar to Patparganj.

“The MCD has been telling that Delhi government has not given them funds. So, I am presenting some of the figures in this regard. In 2012-13, Rs 399 crore was given as fund, in 2013-14 Rs 416 crore, and in 2014-15 it was Rs 441 crore. Then our government came and we released Rs 702 crore under the non-plan head. So far, in 2016-17, we have released Rs 609 crore. Also, till 2015, these funds were released with Rs 60-70 crore of loan adjustment. But we gave them (MCD) the funds without such deductions. We want to ask — where did that money go?” he said.

“If these funds were not used, then is there a corruption pipeline opened by the civic bodies? Besides, we have also released a fund of Rs 119 crore to the EDMC under the non-plan head. It should duly be used for payment of salaries. The fund was released on Saturday and it should reach the civic body soon,” said Mr Sisodia.

The AAP-MCD politics heats up at a time when municipal polls are due this year. Mr Sisodia said, “People will teach them (BJP led MCD) lessons in the elections. From three seats (in Delhi Assembly polls) they would be wiped out completely this time.”

The AAP leader also took the opportunity to reach out to the sanitation workers, saying, “They were being exploited by the MCD. They should expose these civic bodies.”

Mr Sisodia also said that as per the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission, the civic bodies should get about Rs 3,552 crore from the Centre. “Now the government at the Centre and at the municipal level is BJP’s, then why are they (MCD) not getting funds? Also, the civic bodies have to collect tax from DDA, but it has not happened. The MCD, instead of collecting taxes properly, is busy indulging in corruption in sanctioning building plans in unauthorised colonies. If they collect these taxes properly, they can pay the salaries of these workers,” Mr Sisodia alleged. The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated in 2012 into North Corporation, South Corporation, and East Corporation. “MCD was getting far less fund from earlier dispensations before our government came, and now MCD is complaining that they are not getting enough money to pay for the salaries,” Mr Sisodia said.

The deputy chief minister also alleged that the government has time and again sought “audited balance sheet” from the civic bodies, but they have never provided it. “The workers were to be given salaries by now as per the court ruling. What the MCD has been doing, amounts to contempt of court. But, still no action,” he said. “We even went out of the way and gave them MRF (municipal reform fund) last year. But, they say that no fund was given. Where is the money going?” he asked.

“EDMC is a politically elected body and now they are not able to do political management. They are a complete failure and are now exploiting the sanitation workers,” Mr Sisodia said.

Meanwhile, the sanitation strike crisis deepened on Sunday with Sanjay Gehlot, the president of the Delhi unit of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union, saying: “We are yet to be paid our three months’ salary (October-December), DA, and bonus. Due to this we aren’t able to pay the children’s school fees and marriages have been postponed.” He claimed that 17,000 sanitation workers are participating in the strike.