MCDs indulged in scams worth hundreds of crores of rupees: Sisodia

Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday alleged that the BJP-ruled municipal corporations in Delhi indulged in scams worth hundreds of crores of rupees during the past several years.

He claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has presided over a "systematic loot" and "bankruptcy" of the national capital's municipal bodies.

He said an internal audit of the three municipal corporations in Delhi, done last in 2011-12, had revealed that "scams worth Rs 1,000 crore were done" in these bodies.

"There had been no internal audit of MCDs after 2012. The audit reports shows the three MCDs looted the public money and failed on delivering promises," Sisodia told reporters.

Citing the audit reports, Sisodia said that every statutory audit of MCD has revealed large scams. The last audit conducted by its own Chief Auditor in 2011-12, showed financial irregularities adding to Rs 244 crore, which hasn't even been denied by the municipal bodies.

"The department is yet to recover dues amounting to Rs 55.8 crore in respect of 71 cheques tendered," Sisodia said citing the report.

He said reports revealed that undue benefits were given to property owners/builders as the municipal corporations did not undertake demolition action on unauthorised constructions.

Sisodia also said that he would get the records of the municipal corporations audited if the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came to power in the civic bodies.

"If AAP comes to power in MCDs, we will not only conduct the internal audit of MCDs but also bring outcome-oriented budget in the municipal corporations like we did this year in the Delhi government," Sisodia added.

Elections for the North, East and South Delhi municipal corporations are scheduled on April 23 and the results will be announced on April 26.

--IANS

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