EDMC asks govt to provide ‘Covid-19 funds’

The proposal was passed in a standing committee meeting of the corporation, which said it was going through an acute financial crisis and was facing difficulty in providing PPE kits, masks and gloves to its corona warriors.

The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) on Monday passed a proposal demanding special funds from the Delhi government to fight Covid-19.

A MCD worker fumigating an area during the launch of a campaign on dengue, malaria and chikungunya prevention from Flagstaff road, in New Delhi. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

The proposal was passed in a standing committee meeting of the corporation, which said it was going through an acute financial crisis and was facing difficulty in providing PPE kits, masks and gloves to its corona warriors.

Nirmal Jain, mayor of EDMC, said the proposal was passed in view of the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the city. “Since Covid-19 cases are on the rise and need to be taken care of properly. We have asked the Delhi government to provide us with a separate special fund for fighting coronavirus. Fighting with Covid-19 needs special equipment, kits, masks and gloves and for this we need additional funds. It becomes tough for EDMC to spend additionally on Covid gears as the civic body is already passing through a financial crisis,” Jain said.

Responding to the EDMC’s demand, Aam Aadmi Party senior leader and MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak said, “Ask them to pick up the latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. It clearly states the Delhi government has already given around Rs 4,000 crore as loan to the three MCDs...”.