AAP MLAs accuse civic bodies of stalling work in their areas

AAP legislators today accused the BJP-led municipal corporations in the national capital, of "stalling" or "obstructing" civic works being done in their constituencies under the MLA local area development scheme.
R K Puram MLA Parmila Tokas alleged that the civic body in her area was either "not doing work" or "had halted ongoing projects." Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj too accused that South Delhi Municipal Corporation had been sitting on projects in his area, for over a year.
"Even for DJB works, the NOC (no-objection certificates) has to be taken from the MCD. Bureaucratic hurdles are being created in execution of civic projects. I therefore propose that a committee be set up to oversee why local area development projects are getting delayed," Bhardwaj said.

Alka Lamba, AAP lawmaker from Chandani Chowk, also raised civic issues including traffic woes in Rani Jhansi Road area, while MLA Sanjeev Jha alleged poor condition of municipal schools in his area.
Sarita Singh, another AAP legislator, alleged, in her area, even in narrow streets, people are being asked to pay parking fees, despite no such facilities.
"Small traders are unhappy and I request the House to take cognisance of this," she said.

Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain and Malviya Nagar MLA Somnath Bharti raised the issue of thana-level committees saying, "they were being closed because they are headed by area MLAs."

"The district-level committees are being still run as they are headed by area MPs," Bharti said.
MLA Som Dutt alleged that employees of civic bodies are being "threatened" by area councillors to "not address" any complaints coming from area MLAs.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government and the BJP-led three municipal corporations have been at loggerheads over civic issues for a long time.