MCDs to seek special package from Centre

In a bid to extricate the municipalities from their financial woes, the BJP councillors of the three corporations are mulling to seek a special package from the Centre government during the ongoing Budget session.

Though the city government gave the East and North Corporations funds in the form of loan to pay salaries to their employees till March, councillors are of the view that the amount is not sufficient to carry out civic agencies’ primary functions. Even, councillors of the financially stable South Delhi Municipal Corporation are supporting the special package claim, said sources.

“We are demanding a special package from the Union government to be given to us by the Delhi government,” said Yogender Chandolia, Leader of House in North Delhi Municipal Corporation. “We need money to carry out primary functions like sanitation. We have demanded Rs 500 crore for the North Corporation alone as special package from the Centre,” added Chandolia.

1 lakh dustbins

Under Swachh Bharat Mission approximately one lakh dustbins will be placed in all of six zones under the north civic agency by March 15, said North Corporation Mayor Ravinder Gupta on Wednesday. “These dustbins will be provided with the help of RWAs, market associations and other organisations. These dustbins will be kept in over 5,400 parks as well as streetside and roads under the limits of North Delhi.”

It has been made mandatory for the street vendors to keep a blue dustbin, added the mayor. “If vendors want to sell their goods, they have abide by the order.”Gupta added that nearly 1,800 well-maintained big parks have been identified where utility toilets will be developed under Swachh Bharat Mission.