Mohalla sabha funds unused, await L-G approval, says govt
Delhi government on Wednesday said its mohalla sabha project has failed to take off as it still awaits the Lieutenant Governor’s approval.
On the second day of the Delhi Assembly’s monsoon session, urban development minister Satyendar Jain said funds to the tune of Rs 350 crore for mohalla sabhas remained unutilized in the last financial year.
“This year too the same amount has been allocated and if the L-G doesn’t clear it, the money will lapse. I am giving an open offer to the opposition to send us as many suggestions as possible so we can make this system of de-centralisation of power a better one,” Jain said.
The bill, passed by the Delhi Assembly, enables the formation of mohalla sabhas through which people will get a say in development works and fund allocation in their areas.
The House discussed the alleged deficiencies in implementing the midday meal scheme in Delhi schools. Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said the government had finalised an NGO that would build a kitchen and cook meals for 40,000 students.
“The matter has been stuck for long now as the previous L-G was giving land for the purpose only for 3.5 years while other states give it for around 10 years,” Sisodia said.
“Now, we have zeroed in on an NGO that would build one kitchen on the land sourced by themselves and for another land the Delhi government urges DDA to change its land use so it can be used for the purpose,” he added.
The AAP government plans to carry out development works in around 1,700 unauthorised colonies through the irrigation and food control department, Delhi UD minister Satyendar Jain said.
Replying to a question, Jain said that at present, only the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) carries out civic projects in such colonies.
“Government has made a plan to allow irrigation and flood control department to look after the development works in around 1,700 unauthorised colonies along with DSIIDC,” Jain told the House.
The decision came after some MLAs complained that there has been a delay in executing development works in unauthorised colonies falling under their constituencies.
The Delhi government reintroduced two Bills in the assembly. Sisodia tabled the Delhi Netaji Subhash University of Technology Bill 2017 and Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Bill, 2017. These Bills were earlier passed by the assembly in 2015 but the Centre had returned them Bills on technical grounds.
The Minimum Wages Bill stipulates steep penalty for violating labour laws and the NSIT Bill is aimed at upgrading the premier engineering institute as Netaji Subhash University of Technology.
At the beginning of the session, Leader of Opposition, Vijender Gupta, raised the issue of shortage of medicines, surgical consumables and equipments in Delhi government hospitals.
“The government itself admitted in its circular dated August 8 that the chief minister had observed that the system is much below the mark. It is the same CM who had made a declaration on January 11, 2016 that all Delhi hospitals will have 100% medicines,” Gupta said.