JOIN USAmid clamours for funds by the cash-strapped North and East Corporations, the Delhi BJP unit is mulling to hold a review meeting to deliberate reunification of the civic agencies in the city.
The unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi was trifurcated in 2012. Lack of funds has forced the BJP-ruled North Corporation to turn to the party high command seeking reunification of civic agencies, said chairman of the north civic agency Mohan Pradsad Bhardwaj on Wednesday.
But Bharatiya Janata Party Delhi president Satish Upadhyay said the matter needs serious deliberation. “We will hold a meeting of the top leadership of the three corporations and then come to a decision,” added Upadhyay, who is also a councillor with the South Corporation.
The issue of reunification of the corporations was raised by councillors of the ruling party in North Corporation’s standing committee meeting on Wednesday.
“We have lost revenue since the civic agencies were trifurcated,” said Rekha Gupta, a councillor from Pitampura. “There is huge disparity between the three corporations. The north and east civic agencies can’t even pay salaries to employees, but the south civic body is self-sufficient,” said Gupta, also Delhi BJP general secretary.
“The sources of income have declined and expenditures have increased after trifurcation of the unified MCD. There is also a dearth of efficient officials to fill vacant positions,” added Gupta.
The North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s chairman also wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking for over Rs 687 crore. “The civic agency has raised the issue with the party high command. Let’s see what it decides,” Bhardwaj said.
This month the civic agency could pay only 40 per cent of its employees, and shortage of funds might lead to non-payment of salaries in the coming months, according to senior officials of the North Corporation.
The civic agency needs Rs 170 crore a month to pay salaries to employees.