SDMC discusses fourth DFC report

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation today discussed the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission report tabled in the Winter session of the state Assembly and demanded the AAP government to implement the recommendations of the report.
The report, tabled in Delhi Assembly on December 2 by the Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, recommends measures needed to improve financial condition of the three municipal corporations in the national capital.
The recommendation of DFC and its relevance to the SDMC were discussed by the councillors after the issue was raised through a short notice and half hour discussion notice served by ruling BJP and Opposition Congress members.

"The members expressed "resentment" over the DFC report for penalising the civic body for keeping itself in good shape and not running into debts," said Radhe Shyam Sharma, Chairman of Standing Committee of the civic body.
"They said that it was illogical recommendation that since SDMC was in better financial condition, its Global Share could be reduced," he said.
During the discussion the members also demanded the Delhi Government to implement the recommendations of DFC from 2011.

Even if the report is deemed implemented from 2012, post trifurcation of erstwhile DMC, the SDMC stands to receive around Rs 4,000 crore from the government as per the recommendations, Sharma added.

Leader of Opposition Farhad Suri charged the SDMC authorities of showing the civic body in good financial condition through "book balancing" and thereby getting its Global Share reduced by the DFC.
"Although SDMC finances are not in very good shape but the authorities through book balancing have projected sound financial condition," he alleged.
The DFC in its revised formula for Global Share distribution among the three municipal corporations has given weightage to "financial condition". As a result the Global Share of SDMC has been reduced while that of East and North Delhi Municipal Corporation has increased, he added.