Leaders of the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday to ask for financial aid for the cash-strapped civic body.
Mayor Ravinder Gupta, Deputy Mayor Dr. Neelam Goel and Standing Committee Chairperson Mohan Bhardwaj met the Chief Minister at the Delhi Secretariat.
Mr. Gupta said the Corporation was undergoing a financial crisis as the Delhi Government had not been disbursing funds to it on time and adjusting grants with loan repayments.
“I had already written to the Chief Minister on May 1, asking the government to table the recommendations of the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission. If that is done, a lot of our financial problems will be solved,” said the Mayor.
A total of Rs.1,550.65 crore would be needed to set the North Corporation’s financial house in order, as per a roadmap drawn up by the Chief Accountant-cum-Financial Advisor.
Mr. Bhardwaj said: “The amount we asked for is nothing extra, it is what was due to us and hasn’t been given so far. For instance, we haven’t got any amount under the Municipal Reform Fund promised in 2012.”
He added that the Chief Minister has asked for a week’s time to respond to the demand.
BJP leaders from the three municipal corporations had met Mr. Kejriwal in March and they had come back complaining of not being taken seriously.
