MCD needs no extra funds, but utilise alloction: Congress

Opposition Congress councillors in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Thursday alleged that the civic agency required no additional funding for Commonwealth Games related projects and should instead utilise existing funds.

These funds are proposed to be given to various committee heads in this year’s budget, in contradiction of the Municipal Act, Leader of Opposition in MCD house Jai Kishan Sharma and Kalkaji area councillor Khavinder Singh Captain told reporters. They alleged that the civic agency was not utilising funds properly.

‘In this year’s budget proposal, the standing committee has asked for discretionary funds for the leader of the house and opposition, as well as committees on gardening, health, education, sanitation and works. These are in absolute contradiction of section 105 of the Delhi Municipal Act. The law only allows discretionary funds for the municipal commissioner, ward committee heads and standing committee heads,’ Sharma said.

Maintaining that the opposition needed no discretionary funds, Sharma and Captain also alleged that the civic corporation was not using budget allocations for public welfare. ‘MCD doesn’t need more funds from Delhi government… we need to utilise what we have.’

‘Instead of using the funds on public, many MCD heads are pocketing the money themselves. Their tea parties cost Rs.200,000. If funds are allocated like this, the corporation will have to be shut down,’ Sharma claimed.