Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal asks corporations to return with revenue plan

NEW DELHI: Even as the BJP-led municipal corporations are battling financial crisis and charting out new strategies to stay afloat, a turnaround has been sought from commissioners of the three civic bodies after a detailed review by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The task ahead is not expected to be easy as, while the corporations are still undergoing a transition period after trifurcation of the erstwhile MCD, talks have already started about making them a unified body again.

Financial instability of the municipal bodies is a cause of concern for the new government which comes with a vast welfare agenda. While the government is focused on enhancing its own revenue generation, it wants the municipal corporations to gain financial strength so that the state has to pump in minimal resources to help them tide over their crisis.

The road ahead is not easy as revenue generation avenues remain limited and new modes will require the political will of BJP. North and East corporations have been under financial strain since the trifurcation done by the Congress regime under Sheila Dikshit. Also, unification of the three corporations into one may lead to uncertainty in the civic management system.

In his first review of municipal corporations, Kejriwal had sternly told the commissioners to put their house in order. He had told them to think of themselves as CEOs out to achieve results and deliver a plan to show how additional revenue can be made viable. The CM's remarks followed assertions by the corporations that they had financial constraints. He also raised the issue of poor sanitation and asserted on the need regularize the jobs of safai karamcharis as laid out in AAP's 70-point agenda.

The CM had asked the corporations to return within the next fortnight with a plan to show how they can be made financially viable. However, sources said Wednesday's review did not throw up any concrete decisions. Kejriwal and new chief secretary KK Sharma reviewed the detailed presentations made on finances and functioning of the three corporations. Sources added that firm proposals have now been sought from the commissioners to deliver a turnaround.