Swaraj targets MCDs, says Swachh funds lying unused
NEWDELHI: Swaraj India, the political party floated by former AAP members Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, on Saturday attacked the Centre and the BJPled municipal corporations for having ‘failed’ to implement funds under Swachh Bharat Mission over the past two years.
The front members claimed that the three MCDs could spend only ₹ 1.86 crore of ₹280 crore allocated under the cleanliness mission — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project. The Swachh Bharat Mission was launched by the PM on Gandhi Jayanti in 2014.
Swaraj Abhiyaan spokesperson Anupam on Wednesday said the lack of implementation of the scheme reflects failure of the Central government in getting its flagship project implemented despite the same party being in power in the city’s local bodies.
“The mission mandates the local bodies to implement the scheme. The BJP-ruled civic bodies have been struggling for funds leading to strikes by municipal staff. But under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the civic bodies have failed to deliver despite availability of funds,” Anupam said.
Of the three corporations, only the South MCD could spend a fraction of what was allocated to them under the scheme.
“In 2015-16, the North MCD failed to spend even a penny out of ₹46.28 crore. Similarly, the East MCD failed to spend even single rupee out of ₹41.99 crore in 2015-16. Only South MCD utilised funds to the tune of ₹1.86 crore out of ₹52.47 crore,” Anupam said.
The MCD officials, however, refuted the claims saying they have spent more money than being claimed, while a portion of the allocated funds could not be used due to discrepancies in the scheme rules.
“A completion certificate of work worth ₹10 crore is ready with the SMCD. Against the rest amount, tendering process has already started. The process got delayed because of certain discrepancies in the rules. One of the biggest heads under the scheme is for construction of household toilets. It is not applicable in the case of urban local bodies. We had requested change of heads. All funds will soon be utilised,” said Shailendar Singh, standing committee chairman, SDMC.