New Delhi, Nov 4 (IANS) Citing that the economic condition of the Delhi government is in “bad shape”, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) on Wednesday approached the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for clearing Rs 607 crore dues from the Delhi Police.
DJB Vice Chairman Raghav Chadha met with Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy regarding the exorbitant arrears due from Delhi Police towards the Delhi Jal Board.
Chadha sought the minister’s intervention in recovering the dues so that the board’s financial challenges can be overcome and the many far-reaching welfare projects can be taken forward.
“The collective dues of 141 police stations of Delhi Police towards Delhi Jal Board stand at Rs 607 crore. Clearing these dues will help in greenlighting multiple DJB projects,” Chadha said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader also apprised Reddy about how the DJB had sent multiple showcause notices to Delhi Police, but got no response.
“This has hindered the smooth expedition of the functions and duties of the DJB, which is doing the groundwork for expanding its operations, and bringing about revolutionary changes in the current structure of water supply as well as water management,” Chadha informed the minister.
“All of this requires regular flow of finances. As such, releasing the dues owed to DJB would go a long way in meeting with necessary and immediate expenses,” he said.
Chadha explained that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, “the economic condition of the state government is in bad shape”, therefore, the Delhi government is in the view to finish all such pending transactions in a bid to improve its economic condition, which will only go to serve the larger public.
“Delhi continues to reel under the extraordinary situation of the Covid-19 pandemic. While the city is treading cautiously towards a semblance of normalcy, an amount as high as what is due from the Delhi Police can be surmounted if the DJB receives its shares of outstanding dues,” Chadha said.
He said that the minister has assured to help the DJB.
On September 29, Chadha had informed in a press conference that seven government agencies, including the three municipal corporations, have not paid water and sewerage dues for years, amounting to Rs 6,811 crore.
Delhi Police are among seven Central government agencies who had not paid their long-pending dues to the DJB. Indian Railways, Central Public Works Department, Delhi Police and DDA under Central agencies and MCD’s North, South and East departments are among them.
Chadha also said that as per the DJB, showcause notices have been served to all these agencies.
As on October 21, CPWD and DDA had cleared dues up to Rs 102 crore. CPWD still owes Rs 110 crore and DDA Rs 106 crore to the DJB.
–IANS
rak/arm