NDMC to meet Arun Jaitley for release of funds

New Delhi: The BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) will approach Union finance minister Arun Jaitley with a request to release funds to the corporation, facing a fund crunch,  by deducting the same from the Delhi government’s share.

NDMC standing committee chairperson Tilakraj Kataria said that the NDMC has sought time from Mr Jaitley in this regard.

Mr Kataria alleged that “The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government is responsible for the fund crunch in the crporation. The government is yet to release Rs 2,630 crore.”

Due to non disbursal of funds, the corporation’s liabilities have increased to as much as Rs 2,421 crore. If Delhi government releases the amount, the NDMC can clear all its dues, he said.

“We have even requested lieutenant governor Anil Baijal to direct the Delhi government to release the said amount. In this regard, “we have also written to the Union government”, said the NDMC standing committee chairperson.

According to Mr Kataria, a delegation of the NDMC will meet Mr Jaitley with a request to deduct the amount from funds given to Delhi government by the Centre. “We will request union finance minister to provide fund to NDMC directly as Delhi government stalling development work by playing politics,” Mr Kataria added.

Giving reasons for its poor financial health, the corporation blamed revenue-expenditure mismatch of the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

The NDMC spends around Rs 280 crore by running five hospitals. Another reason for its ‘dry’ situation was because of payment of salaries to employees, allowances, and pension,” claimed the NDMC. Apart from pending liabilities as on date, the corporation requires additional assistance of Rs 342 crore only to clear the salaries, pensions and terminal benefits till March 2018.

The NDMC has also taken several steps to manage income-expenditure mismatch by creating fresh posts, rightsizing the existing manpower or abolishing posts, freeze on fresh recruitment, check on councillor funds, control on old age pension scheme, economy in purchase of medicines, replacing conventional street lights with LEDs to reduce the electricity expenditure.