No funds to remove road debris, says South Delhi Municipal Corporation

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation on Monday objected to a Public Works Department circular asking civic bodies to remove unclaimed debris from roads under their jurisdiction. SDMC mayor Narendra Chawla said the corporation may not be able to carry the task as it doesn’t have funds.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) on Monday objected to a Public Works Department (PWD) circular asking municipal corporations to remove unclaimed debris from roads under their jurisdiction.

SDMC mayor Narendra Chawla alleged that the three MCDs have been facing a financial crunch as the Delhi government is sitting over Centre’s funds meant for them. (HT/File Photo)

SDMC mayor Narendra Chawla said the corporation may not be able to carry the task as it doesn’t have enough funds.

“The debris generated due to construction in PWD projects are seen piled on the roads for months together eclipsing the cleanliness of the city and maligning the image of the civic bodies. The circular is a political move to display the failure of MCDs,” Chawla said in a statement.

A senior PWD official, however, denied any knowledge of the circular. “We are not aware about such a circular but as a civic agency, they should to do the task,” he said, on condition of anonymity.

The mayor added that SDMC would take up this issue with L-G Anil Baijal and request him to use his “good offices” in getting due funds released from the Delhi government. Chawla alleged that the three MCDs have been facing a financial crunch as the Delhi government is sitting over Centre’s funds meant for them.

He also alleged that the Delhi government has not only not given any money for sanitation works, it has scrapped the sanitation head altogether. “Only ₹137.59 crore has been released of an allocation of ₹1,579.19 crore during the five months of FY 2018-19,” he said.