Union Minister Alleges Rs 3,237-Crore 'Scam' In Delhi Jal Board, AAP Hits Back

Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi on Saturday alleged a "scam" of Rs 3,237 crore in the Delhi Jal Board under the AAP government, citing various accounting-related irregularities since 2017.

The AAP, however, fired back, saying, true to its nature, the BJP has come up with a new way to "interrupt" the progress of Delhiites.

"It doesn't go well with a Union minister making such fabricated insinuations against an 'honest' government devoted towards its people," the AAP said in a statement.

In a joint press conference with the BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, Ms Lekhi alleged that issuing of tenders was avoided for 12,000 work orders worth Rs 600 crore by keeping the value of each below Rs 5 lakh.

Mr Sachdeva said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should refer the "scam" to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for a probe.

If he fails to do so, the BJP will urge the Lt Governor to do it, Mr Sachdeva added.

Ms Lekhi said the AAP and Mr Kejriwal used to allege that a "water tanker mafia" existed during the Sheila Dikshit government but it exists even now.

"The accounts have not been maintained since 2017 and they are trying to hide the details. While Rs 1,601 crore is missing from the books, there is a mismatch of Rs 1,167 crore between the DJB's (Delhi Jal Board) financial statement and the conciliation statement of banks. There is also no trace of a Rs 135-crore term deposit," she alleged.

Ms Lekhi further alleged that there was "a scam of Rs 3,237 crore under various heads" in the form of financial accounting irregularities, adjustments and re-adjustments, missing fixed deposits and others.

The AAP alleged that it is "shameful" that the BJP has ensured, with the GNCTD Amendment Act, that officers do not work for the people of Delhi during the past six months.

"The finance department has been delaying the funds to the Delhi Jal Board, which is hindering the development of Delhi. This is being done by the same officers who, on the instruction of the BJP, stopped funds to Mohalla Clinics before the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) elections," it charged.

The Delhi government remains committed to the progress and prosperity of the city and its people and the DJB has been working to provide water and sewer facilities, the AAP said.

"Now, to stop the work, the BJP is making false allegations. They will now threaten officers with CBI inquiries," it alleged further.

This is only to stop the good works being done by the Kejriwal government. However hard the BJP tries, the Arvind Kejriwal government will keep working for the people of Delhi, it asserted. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)