Mayors meet L-G, seek help in release of funds

New Delhi:  Mayors of the three BJP-ruled municipal corporations in the national capital met lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal on Friday and sought his intervention in releasing finance commission funds to them from the Delhi government.

The mayors, including Adesh Gupta (North Delhi civic body), Bipin Bihar Singh (East Delhi civic body) and Narender Chawla (South Delhi civic body), have also warned of staging a dharna in front of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s office if funds are not relased in a week.

Mr Gupta said that during the meeting, Baijal was apprised that according to  recommendations of the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission (DFC), funds, based on the devolution of basic tax assignment and grant in-aid, totalling around `1,431 crore are to be paid to the local bodies by the government.

The Delhi government has declined to implement the 4th DFC recommendations and asked the Centre to fulfil its obligations first.

Mr Gupta also claimed that funds entitled to the corporations according to the recommendations of third DFC have not been released in full.