Delhi minister slams BJP-ruled civic agencies over choked drains

Delhi Public Works Department Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan hit out at Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled civic agencies in the city for being "lethargic" and "misappropriating" government funds meant to keep the capital clean.

Chauhan said the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi have no right to blame the public works department for not cleaning drains in the national capital.

Chauhan's remarks came a day after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India ordered an audit of flood control measures and the drainage system in the national capital, where last Saturday's torrential downpour causd much flooding and huge traffic jams.

"A total of Rs.3 crore was paid to the three MCDs for letting the PWD dump silt of drains on MCD's landfill sites, but they were reluctant," Chauhan said.

"It means they are avoiding basic responsibility of keeping Delhi clean. The accumulation of silt, which is taken out of drains onto roads, may attract mosquitoes, which can result into diseases like dengue, malaria and other vector-borne diseases," Chauhan said.

"The corporations have proved to be lethargic are more interested in getting funds from the city government to misappropriate," he said.