Kejriwal backs protesting civic body employees

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in a statement said that the three corporations have themselves admitted having received 100 percent of the non-plan funds – Rs.892.92 crore for North MCD, Rs.465.53 crore for East MCD and Rs. 830 crore for South MCD for the current financial year.

Extending support to striking MCD workers demanding dues, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today hoped that “some solution” will emerge after the High Court hears the matter next week.

“Payment of salary is one of the functions, which is to be carried out by the civic body on a monthly basis and in absence of receipt of the requisite amounts from the Delhi government, salary has not been paid to majority of the employees for the past three months”, the affidavit stated.

Functioning of three BJP-ruled municipal corporations remained severely crippled for the sixth day on Monday due to the strike by santitation workers, with heaps of garbage littering the streets.

Meanwhile, Rajendra Mewati, general secretary of the United Front of MCD Employees, warned that the situation may “deteriorate” if the government continues to engage PWD workers.

Earlier, the workers expressed their anger by throwing garbage outside the residences of Delhi Ministers. “In the letter written by commissioner P.K. Gupta, the NDMC has asked the Delhi government to release to us ‘651 crore so that salaries and pensions could be paid”, he said.

PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said the work on clearing away the garbage piled up during the civic and sanitary workers’ strike has been going on since Saturday. “Leaders of the civic bodies are telling a lie and are getting the garbage dumped outside my (camp offce)”, he said. The Delhi government blames the BJP-led central government for not distributing enough funds. “AAP ministers, MLAs and leaders of the party have tried to mislead the people of Delhi through the photo-op on Sunday and claiming that 91 trucks were lifting garbage day and night to clean the city”, Mr Upadhyay said.

The civic doctors had said that they have been on indefinite strike in solidarity with sanitation workers since yesterday. DDA has to give property tax of around Rs 808 crore to the North Corporation.