LAND-OWNING BODY OWES MCD OVER ₹2K CRORE,S AAP ALLEGES; BJP HITS BACK

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday alleged that the Delhi Development Authority( DDA), which comes under the Centre, owes more than ₹2,000 crore to the Bjp-led north and south corporations.

AAP’S chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj questioned the BJP as to why the corporations had not initiated the process to get the funds back from the Capital’s land-owning agency.

Bhardwaj said, “The DDA, which comes under the Bjpruled Central government, owes more than ₹2,000 crore to north and south corporations. According to the data, the DDA owed around ₹857 crore to the north corporation till March 31, 2018. Based on this figure, if we calculate, the amount comes to ₹1,200 crore today.”

He said the DDA owes close to ₹535 crore to the south body.

The civic bodies in Delhi — north, east and south — have been run by the BJP for the last 14 years.

Bhardwaj said, “The BJP should immediately disclose why they have not taken initiative to get this money from the DDA, despite both the agencies being under them. Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta should tell what are the steps that have been taken to bring this money back from the DDA.”

DDA officials did not respond to HT’S query seeking a response on the AAP’S allegations.

Delhi BJP general secretary Harsh Malhotra said, “There is no doubt that several government bodies, including Delhi Jal Board, Delhi Transport Corporation, power Discoms and the DDA owe money to the corporations. But that doesn’t free the Delhi government from paying the funds it owes to the corporations.

“The corporations are pursuing with all agencies to get their dues and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj should also ask the Delhi government to release municipal funds and to make Delhi Jal Board, DTC and discoms pay their dues,” he said