Contractors working for the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) have announced their intention to halt ongoing projects starting November 27, citing non-payment of dues since February this year. DJB Vice Chairman Somnath Bharti expressed frustration, stating that despite repeated directives from the finance minister, funds have not been released by the finance department for the last three months. Bharti plans to seek the intervention of the Lieutenant Governor to address the issue.
The Delhi Jal Board Contractors Welfare Association, in a letter to the Additional Chief Engineer, highlighted the non-payment of dues as the reason for stopping ongoing works related to water leakages, water contamination, maintenance of water supply, sewerage system upkeep, operation of tube wells, and de-silting work. The decision was made during a meeting held by the association on November 23, after months of pending payments.
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Bharti emphasized the Delhi Government's efforts to secure funds for DJB over the past three months, with the Water Minister issuing repeated directives to the finance department. However, Bharti lamented that the finance department continued to raise objections and queries, causing delays in fund disbursement. The Vice Chairman announced plans to approach the Lieutenant Governor once again to seek intervention for the release of funds to DJB.
Earlier, Delhi Water Minister Atishi had raised concerns about a potential "man-made water crisis" due to the withholding of funds by the finance department, urging immediate intervention from Lt Governor V K Saxena. In a letter, she alleged that Finance Secretary Ashish C Verma, on the chief secretary's advice, had halted all funds to DJB since August, demanding appropriate action against Verma.
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Government sources noted that Rs 1,598 crore had been released to the DJB in June, with additional funds contingent on evidence of project progress and geotagging to prevent misappropriation of public funds.
