Jung extends Rs.300-crore loan, civic staff refuse to budge

The court observed that due to the rift between the BJP-ruled MCD and AAP-led Delhi government, common people are suffering and are facing inconvenience.

Delhi’s ruling AAP on Friday urged Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung to look into the situation arising out of the ongoing strike by employees of the capital’s three main civic bodies, party leader Somnath Bharti said.

The Governor also made a unilateral offer of Rs. 300 crores loan to the North and East Corporations from the DDA, reports ANI. Police have reported regular clashes with protesters and they fear that some of them may even try to commit suicide. The MCD employees are demanding a permanent solution to the problem.

Nearly simultaneously, according to his office, Mr. Jung offered his own financial package to the East and the North Delhi municipal corporations as a loan from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) before appealing to striking employees to call off their agitation in the interests of the citizens of the Capital.

“The LG has assured us that he is trying to address the issue”, Gehlot said.

He added that the pending arrears of the workers can be paid only after the implementation of the Fourth Pay Commission.

The Delhi High Court has given MCD time till 2 pm to talk to Unions and tell the court if the strike will be over or not. The court also issued notice to the central government to file its response on the legal issue of whether ESMA could be imposed.

The court asked counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to appear before the bench immediately.

They also said that while the workers were on strike, garbage collection had been outsourced to private companies, but cleaning of streets was not being carried out.