The MCD needs тВ╣774 crore every month to pay the salaries and pensions of its employees. Senior municipal officials say the civic body is currently in a тАЬhandтАУtoтАУmouthтАЭ situation.┬а
| Photo Credit: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi employees, who were not paid in January, are unlikely to receive their salaries and pensions for February as well.
Earlier this month, the Delhi government said it had released nearly тВ╣2,000 crore to the MCD to pay the civic employeesтАЩ salaries. A senior MCD official noted that the corporation had received slightly over тВ╣1,600 crore from the Delhi government, of which тВ╣730 crore had been released for clearing the backlog salary payments.
тАЬWe hope to receive the pending amount of тВ╣400 crore from the Delhi government this week. If it comes through, then it is most likely that salaries for January will be released. However, we would still require funds to pay the salaries for February,тАЭ said a senior MCD official.
The MCD needs тВ╣774 crore every month to pay the salaries and pensions of its employees. Senior municipal officials say the civic body is currently in a тАЬhandтАУtoтАУmouthтАЭ situation.
тАЬOur internal revenue is insufficient to pay the monthly salaries. We largely depend on external revenue sources, such as funds from the Delhi government. Besides, we canтАЩt spend all the money we receive on paying salaries and pensions. We use a mix of internal and external revenue to pay the salaries,тАЭ said an MCD official.
The official added that the delay in electing the CapitalтАЩs next Mayor was also affecting the disbursal of salaries and pensions to civic employees. The civic polls were held more than two-and-a-half months ago, but the MCD House has been unable to hold mayoral elections due to adjournments caused by heated exchanges between AAP and BJP councillors over various issues.
A senior MCD official said major decisions тАФ related to policy matters, development works and large-scale projects тАФ have been put on hold till the new Mayor is sworn in.
тАЬWe want to avoid conflict with the councillors who may or may not be on board with major financial decisions. In the meantime, day-to-day work will continue,тАЭ said the senior MCD official. The Lieutenant-Governor has approved the Delhi governmentтАЩs proposal to hold mayoral polls on February 22.
