SDMC finances substantially cut, not getting what it deserves: Baijal

NEWDELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal on Thursday acknowledged that funding to the South Delhi Municipal Corporation had been substantially reduced and said the corporation was ‘not getting the funds it deserved’.

The south civic body had earlier decided to not take up any new “financial commitments” owing to lack of funds after the Delhi government decided to implement the Fifth Delhi Finance Commission recommendations last month.

Delivering his inauguration speech at the ‘Waste to Wonder’ Park’ at Sarai Kale Khan on Thursday, L-G Baijal said, “I know you (SDMC) are not getting the funds you deserve. In spite of that, you are executing innovative projects like these (parks).”

The south corporation claims it has been facing an ‘unprecedented financial crisis’ after the recommendations of Fifth Delhi Financial Commission reduced its share in the Delhi government taxes from ₹1,218.48 crore to ₹399.73 crore.

SDMC commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel, as a result, had issued an order earlier this month asking all heads of departments to suspend existing projects at tendering/budgeting stage and not make any “new financial commitments.”

South corporation’s mayor Narendra Chawla has also written to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to relook at the distribution of taxes and feared that the “SDMC will become pauper if its share of money is not raised.”

Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who was also present at the inauguration, praised SDMC’S efforts saying, “Handling garbage today is not just a challenge for Delhi, but all metropolitan cities in India. Air pollution is growing, landfills are expanding and green spaces are shrinking progressively.”

“I appreciate SDMC’S effort trying to segregate, recycle and also find value in waste ... A similar initiative has been taken up in Lakshadweep and such news is heartening,” he said.