A major controversy erupted in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) immediately after the presentation of the budget by Commissioner Ashwani Kumar. The chairperson of the standing committee, Satya Sharma, launched a strong objection, accusing the civic administration of systematically bypassing the mandatory scrutiny of her high-powered panel for major financial proposals.
Violation of Financial Protocol Alleged
Satya Sharma, a BJP councillor, stated that several significant proposals, which according to norms must be vetted by the standing committee, were being cleared directly by the House or granted anticipatory approval. She questioned the very purpose of constituting the panel after a delay exceeding two years if its mandatory financial sanction was not being sought.
"According to norms, the commissioner is empowered to sanction proposals of up to Rs 5 crore. Any project exceeding that threshold must pass through the committee. But this protocol has not been followed consistently, undermining the committee's authority," Sharma asserted during the meeting. She directed the officials, including the commissioner, to submit a comprehensive list of all proposals placed directly before the House until December 9, the date of the next committee meeting.
Demand for Transparency and Coordination
Sharma argued that routing proposals through the panel was essential to add valuable inputs. She pointed out that even if the House granted administrative approval, the proposals would eventually come to the committee for finalising rates and agencies. "So why are we bypassing the process?" she questioned.
In his defence, MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar replied that he was acting strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act and adhered to all established norms. The political dimension of the dispute widened as other councillors joined the fray.
BJP councillor Rajpal Singh and AAP's Parveen Kumar demanded a detailed discussion on the contentious proposals in a special meeting. They emphasised that officials should work in coordination with elected councillors to ensure better public services. Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh could not be reached for comment on the matter.
Criticism of the Budget Itself
Beyond the procedural dispute, the budget itself faced criticism. Senior councillor Mukesh Goyal of the Indraprastha Vikas Party labelled the financial plan as incomplete. While acknowledging that not increasing tax rates was a positive step, he highlighted critical shortcomings.
"There's hardly any scheme for area development and little fund for councillors. Development work has stalled for the past three years and citizens are not getting basic amenities," Goyal added, voicing concerns over the stagnation in local infrastructure and civic services.
The confrontation underscores ongoing tensions between the elected representatives and the administrative wing in Delhi's civic body, raising questions about governance transparency and adherence to financial procedures in the capital.
