MLA nod must for release of money for works
The decision is meant to obstruct development in the area and will lead to rampant corruption. Season 4
The Trans-Yamuna Area Development Board (TYADB) has decided not to release payment to contractors without ‘no objection certificates’ (NOC) from the area MLA if the money comes from the Local Area Development (LAD) fund of a legislator.
Sources in the government said the decision had been taken to maintain ‘pressure’ on the service providers to ensure quality work.
A senior government official said the decision had been circulated to all the executing agencies such as East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Public Work Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and others.
The issue was raised by Laxmi Nagar MLA Nitin Tyagi in a board meeting held recently.
Tyagi had suggested that the final payment of the work sanctioned under the board should be released by the executing agency after obtaining an NOC from the area MLA.
“This will guarantee satisfactory, quality execution, and proper utilization of public money. The work should be to the satisfaction of public after all it is their money. Sometimes, the work is done shoddily however the contractors get full payment,” said Tyagi.
Water and social welfare minister, Rajendra Pal Gautam, who is also a member of the board, said it was not an issue because the final payment had been made after the approval by the MLA concerned.
“Because of shoddy job issues, this was our opinion that work should be executed by the agency under whose the land is vested. This has been the practice that if a project is to be done with the MLALAD fund, then the signature of the concerned legislator is required for the payment clearance,” he said.
However, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has objected to the decision, saying it would lead to corruption.
Another member of TransYamuna Area Development Board and East Delhi MP Maheish Girri said, “The development work done from MP or MLA’s fund should be technically assessed by competent officials from the departments concerned and payments to contractors should be released thereafter. This decision is obviously a step to obstruct the development work in the area and will only lead to rampant corruption.”