NGT asks Delhi government, civic bodies for account details

With East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) workers on strike over non-payment of salaries, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday asked the Delhi Government, the three municipal corporations and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to furnish their account details in order to get clarity about funds given to and received by the civic bodies.

The EDMC workers have been on strike since January 6, with garbage piling up in many places.

"Furnish your account details till Tuesday, January 17," NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said.

The Tribunal, irked over the stink and litter of garbage in Delhi due to the strike, had on Thursday sought an explanation from the government and civic bodies. It also asked them for their plans to deal with solid waste.

On Friday the Tribunal was not satisfied as the blame game over fund crunch continued.

Meanwhile, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said that sanitation workers were being compelled to go on strike.

AAP also alleged that the money given by the Delhi government to the municipal corporations was being "misused" and was not reaching the employees.

The Delhi government claimed that EDMC received Rs 1,800 crore from DDA, which both DDA and EDMC denied.

Irked over the issue, which has happened in the past too, Justice Swatanter Kumar had on Thursday asked why should the general public suffer due to the tussle between the civic bodies and Delhi government.

The garbage crisis surfaced in the national capital due to the strike of sanitation workers over non payment of wages. While the BJP-led municipal corporations claims fund crunch, the Delhi government claims that it allocates enough funds to the civic bodies.

--IANS

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