New Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today tabled the Fourth Delhi Finance Commission’s report, which recommends measures needed to improve the financial situation of all three municipal corporations.
The report include certain recommendations which may result in a confrontation between the Centre and the AAP government.
Leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta had moved court against the Arvind Kejriwal government for not tabling the report in the House. The report has recommendation for Central government, Delhi government and all three municipal corporations.
The Commission in its report has said that municipal corporations should not provide public health services independently of state public health policy.
It has also recommended that MCD should impose electricity tax to improve its financial condition.
According to the Delhi government, it will implement the report only after the Union government implements the recommendations.
For the Central government, the Commission has recommended that it should ensure that the Union Urban Development Ministry does not deal with matters related to constitution and powers of the municipal corporations and other local authorities.
“The central government should recuse from framing of building bye-laws for regulating the construction of buildings in Delhi. It should also consider releasing the share of the Delhi government in the taxes and duties in the Union List as at par with other states,” the report said.
For municipal corporations, the report suggests that municipal bodies should focus on the core municipal functions only.
“For example, providing education at school level is not a municipal function. Surprisingly, the municipalities in Delhi despite legal restrictions continue to spend funds in providing primary education.
“Also the municipal corporations should not provide public health services independent of state public health policy,” the report said.
The Commission has recommended for the Delhi government that while releasing funds to the municipalities, it should specify the purpose and conditions under which the funds will be utilized.