New helpline only to hinder fight against graft: Delhi minister

Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra on Friday said new helpline numbers announced by the Lt. Governor appointed Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) chief M.K. Meena was an attempt to hinder the fight against corruption.

"It was an attempt to obstruct our fight against corruption. Helpline (1031) which was started by the Delhi government is the only valid contact to register complaints," Mishra told the media at Delhi Secretariat.

"The people of Delhi know on which helpline number to call," the Aam Aadmi Party leader added.

Meena, who was appointed by Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, on Thursday announced two new helpline numbers to battle corruption and urged people not to call at 1031 issued by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as no action is being taken over calls made to that number.

Reacting sharply to Meena's unprecedented move, the Delhi government once again put on record that Meena was not the ACB chief and action would be taken against him in this connection.

The AAP government maintained that S.S. Yadav, appointed by it, was the chief of the ACB and any decision regarding functioning of the ACB should be taken him.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Mishra, who is also the vice-chairman of Delhi Jal Board, announced mixed use category of the water connection bills would be abolished.

"The Delhi Jal Board in its meeting has decided to end the mix-use or partially residential category of water bills... Such connections will be converted in domestic water connection category benefiting huge number of public in Delhi," he said.

He said he was receiving complaints that people have to pay water bill at commercial rates though not using it commercially. "So we have come up with this solution to provide relief to the people," the minister added.