HC seeks LG and Delhi govt. Response on BJP leader's plea

The Delhi High Court today sought response from the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and city government on a plea by BJP leader Vijender Gupta seeking implementation of 4th finance commission's recommendations to improve the financial health of civic bodies.
A bench of Justice Rajiv Shakdher issued notice to LG and Delhi government and posted the matter for further hearing on July 24.
Gupta, the leader of opposition in Delhi assembly, said in his plea that the 4th finance commission has given its report in March 2013 but it is yet to be tabled in assembly.
He also sought court's direction to the LG for calling an urgent special session of assembly to the report to be tabled at the earliest.

In his plea, Gupta alleged that inaction of LG has amounted to non-exercise of the constitutional duty placed on him and caused undue hardship to the Municipal Corporations due to lack of funds.
"This lack of funds has impeded and continues to impede the smooth functioning of the municipal bodies, namely North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) badly effecting civic life of nearly 80 percent of Delhi's population," the plea said.

It said there is an annual shortfall of Rs 500 crore in EDMC alone and the NDMC's situation is no better with an annual deficit of Rs 700-800 crores as both the civic bodies are facing acute financial crisis since trifurcation of erstwhile MCD in 2012.

Gupta claimed that at the time of trifurcation, it was assured that financial problems of the local bodies will be taken care of by the Delhi government but it has not happened.
"The financial aid is invariably converted into loan account and charged as interest. Out of six lakh properties, revenue generation is provided by only 1/3rd of properties in East Delhi. There are number of unauthorized colonies and Resettlement Colonies which do not generate any revenue," the plea said.