The Delhi government on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court seeking release of Delhi Jal Board funds.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government mentioned the case before a bench headed by Chief Justice Of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud. Singhvi told the court that 3,000 crores will lapse on March 31 and the Jal Board funds are not being refunded as well.
The CJI then said that the top court will list the case on April 1. And the court may reverse any lapse that may occurr if it comes to any decision in the case.
The case pertains to non-release of funds by the finance department of the Delhi government to Delhi Jal Board (DJB).
In Novemeber 2023, AAP Minister Atishi said that Delhi will face serious drinking water crisis as the funds to DJB have been witheld on the directions of Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar.
In a letter to the Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena, Atishi sought the suspension of Principal Secretary (Finance) Ashish C. Verma, whom she accused of adopting an “obstructionist” approach towards the release of funds.
Atishi said that the Delhi Jal Board Contractors’ Welfare Association has threatened to stop working, if their dues are not cleared.
The Minister had said that withholding of funds can lead to overflowing of sewer lines and large parts of Delhi will get contaminated water and face water shortage.
The AAP govt had earmerked a grant-in-aid of Rs 4,839.5 crore for the DJB. Out of which only the first instalment of Rs 1,598 crore was released in May, the subsequent instalments were not released, Atishi had said.
However, the chief secretary said the grant-in-aid is for new works and had nothing to do with salaries of employees or existing sewage or water treatment plants and that the DJB is supposed to meet this expenditure from its own resources.