Civic bodies welcome Delhi High Court decision

Even as the North and East civic bodies welcome the Delhi High Court’s direction to the Delhi government to release funds to pay salaries of North and East civic bodies on Monday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government maintained that its has already released “more than demanded” funds to the corporations.

The cash-strapped North and East civic bodies have not been able to pay dues to their employees since last November resulting in the recent strike by sanitation workers.

“We have asked for Rs 300 crore for paying the salaries of the staff. The court has also asked the city government to release funds as per the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission (DFC), which has not been implemented so far,” said East MCD commissioner Ranbir Singh.

In case of East MCD, the smallest of the three municipal corporations, salaries have been paid till January 31 this year while the North civic body staff has not been paid since last November.

However, when asked a Delhi government spokesperson said, “We are waiting for the detailed order. Also, the court has asked the MCDs to pay their employees and asked us to see if funds could be released. We have paid more than what was actually due to the three corporations. Not a single penny has been deducted.”

According to officials of East Corporation, around Rs 1,700 crore is due in arrears, for which the court has not given any direction.

Similarly, approximately Rs 1,500 crore are due under the Fourth DFC since 2012 to the North Corporation, officials said.

FUND CRUNCH

• The two corporations have been struggling for funds since the trifurcation of the unified MCD in 2012.