No funds to MCD, says Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, OCT. 30.

The controversy over the direct allocation of Rs. 100-crore assistance to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by the Union Urban Development Ministry took an interesting turn today with the Delhi Finance Minister, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi, asserting that no further funds would be released to the Corporation till it signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Delhi Government.

Taking a tough stand, the Finance Minister even threatened to deduct Rs. 50 crores from the annual Plan funds of MCD which had been released by the Centre for development of roads in the Capital. The Delhi Government had extended an assistance of more than Rs. 100 crores for roads but the MCD could only utilise Rs. 60 crores. ``At the time of preparing the budget, I had specifically asked the MCD Commissioner if he needed any extra money for development of roads which were in poor shape, he had blankly refused the offer stating that they had been unable to utilise the previous year's funds. Now suddenly when elections are on, they are making a noise over the issue of financial assistance,'' he said.

Indicating that things could well get tough for the BJP-dominated MCD, Mr. Saathi said now full accountability would be sought from the MCD before any further funds are released. No relaxations would be allowed. ``They have to sign a MoU with the Delhi Government or face action. If they can sign a MoU with the Central Government for Rs. 100 crores, they should not shy away from doing the same with us as we are giving around Rs. 1,000 crores annually to the MCD. They should be signing 10 MoUs with us. There would be no compromise on this issue,'' Mr. Saathi stated.

Outrightly rejecting the Action Plan submitted by the MCD in place of the MoU, Mr. Saathi said the Action Plan was a useless piece of document which gave only one thing -- No action please. This Action Plan needs to be thrown into the dustbin as it clearly indicates the non-action on part of the MCD. They are trying to run away from giving a clear account of the funds given to them. The political bosses in the MCD are trying to befool the people by indulging in blatant lies and giving wrong information. At no point of time during the last four and half years did they ever complain about lack of funds by the State Government.

Mr. Saathi said when the DTC, Delhi Jal Board and Delhi Vidyut Board could sign a MoU with the Delhi Government, why can't the MCD.

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