No time for Mayor, CM asks her to visit his darbar

Mayor of East Delhi Municipal Corporation Meenakshi said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal does not have time to discuss the financial woes of the civic agency.

“Instead of giving us an appointment, he has asked us to come to his Janata Darbar,” the mayor added.

“We have been calling and writing to the CM since February 16. The last time we had called the CM office his aide told us that if we can’t wait for an appointment then we should come to his Janata Darbar,” Meenakshi told Deccan Herald.

“Despite requesting the Chief Minister for a meeting to discuss the financial condition of the corporation, he has not given me time yet.”
The East Corporation is in the red as it does not have money to pay salaries to his over 27,000 employees.

A senior official said the civic agency requires over Rs 85 crore a month to pay salaries to its staff. “The corporation has been approaching various city government departments to realise the outstanding property tax worth crores of rupees to improve its financial condition,” he added.

“The civic agency is facing acute shortage of funds and finding it difficult to even disburse salaries to its staff,” she added.

The corporation has not paid pensions to retired employees for the previous month, and old age pension and widow pension for nearly two years.

“But the Chief Minister is unable to understand the urgency of the matter and has not given time to meet and discuss the matter,” she said.

Meenakshi said many government departments including Delhi government schools, Delhi Transco Limited, DDA and DUSIB are among the defaulters who owe crores as property tax to the East Corporation.

In all Rs 116 crore is owed to East Corporation as property tax by Delhi Development Authority, while Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd is yet to pay Rs 1.03 crore, according to figures compiled by the civic agency.

The mayor said all departments whose property tax or service tax is due are being approached.

“The civic agency is requesting them to pay their dues. In case they refuse to pay then stern action will be initiated against the defaulters including penalty and attachment of bank accounts.”