Traffic passes by a pile of garbage following a strike by municipal workers in New Delhi on February 1, 2016. (AFP)
The Delhi government has asked Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to direct the Delhi Development Authority to release dues running into crores to the three civic bodies, as doctors and teachers joined the six-day strike by over 60,000 sanitation workers. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation, meanwhile, approached the court, accusing the government of withholding salaries.
Here are the latest developments:
The Delhi Cabinet passed a resolution requesting the Lt Governor, who is also the chairman of the Delhi Development Authority, to direct it to pay dues to the tune of Rs 1,575 crore to the civic bodies to help them pay salaries to their employees.
Mr Jung has written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia, asking them to resolve the ongoing strike by sanitation employees, who are protesting against non-payment of wages.
The face-off between the AAP Government and the BJP-led municipal corporations turned into a city-wide protest on Monday, with over 7,000 doctors and 10,000 teachers joining the striking sanitation workers.
The East Delhi Municipal Corporation filed an affidavit in High Court, accusing the government of not releasing funds due to it. The amount, according to the Delhi Finance Commission, has escalated to Rs.627.93 crore in the last four years.
Manish Sisodia said the AAP government has released more non-revenue (salaries) fund to all the three civic bodies as compared to the past three years.
"In 2012-13, the Sheila Dikshit government had given Rs 269 crore to East Delhi Municipal Corporation, and Rs 288 crore in 2013-14. During President's Rule, Rs 366 crore was released to the East MCD. But, the AAP government gave Rs 466 crore during 2015-16," he said.
The New Delhi Municipal Corporation was given Rs 526 crore in 2013-14, Rs 545 crore in 2014-15, but in the current financial year, the Delhi government has released Rs 893 crore, he added.
Hundreds of teams from Delhi Government's Public Works Department and Delhi Jal Board continued to clear garbage from across the city and in some areas they faced resistance from the striking MCD employees.
AAP lawmakers and ministers have also helped the clean-up drive in some areas. In many places, nearly 70% garbage has been cleared, Mr Sisodia said.
Sanitation workers of the three civic corporations of Delhi went on an indefinite strike on January 27, demanding immediate payment of dues. On Thursday, they had a demonstration outside Mr Sisodia's office and dumped at least 2 truckloads of garbage on the road there.
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