Cash-strapped NDMC today decided to move court seeking release of its funds from the Delhi government and moved a resolution in the municipal house criticising the AAP dispensation's alleged indifference towards it.
In a special meeting of the NDMC House convened to discuss the financial issue, Mayor Ravinder Gupta directed the Municipal Commissioner to prepare for seeking the legal route to achieve its goal.
"The Mayor has decided to go to court to settle this issue of release of funds. And he has directed the Commissioner to do the necessary preparations," a senior NDMC official said.
The North Delhi Municipal Corporation and the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government have been at loggerheads lately over the fund release issue with the NDMC alleging that the local government is "indifferent" to its needs.
Gupta has also alleged that the AAP government was "exploiting" local bodies by withholding release of due funds (around Rs 2,000 crore) which hampers essential services like sanitation and health.
"If the sanitation system collapses and the staff go on strike due to non-payment of salaries, only he (Kejriwal) would be responsible," the Mayor said.
Earlier Leader of House Yogender Chandolia tabled a resolution "condemning" Delhi government for its "indifferent attitude" towards the municipal body. The resolution was seconded by Standing Committee Chairman Mohan Prasad Bhardwaj.
Meanwhile Opposition Congress took the opportunity to hit out at both the AAP and the BJP-led Centre over the issue.
"The BJP-led Modi government has so far done nothing on this financial issue despite all the three corporations being BJP-led. Their councillors are happy to demonstrate outside Delhi Assembly rather than seeking a solution on it. And Kejriwal is doing politics over the issue," Leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel alleged.
