₹4,450 crore made available by Centre, says Vijender Gupta

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly Vijender Gupta on Saturday alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government had deliberately put brakes on developmental schemes in Delhi.

The LoP based his allegation on assessments following review meetings by Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri during stock taking of the progress of urban schemes.

“Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accuses the Centre of not allowing the AAP to work. But, the reality is completely to the contrary. Funds made available to the Delhi government by the Centre for urban development schemes are not being spent. ₹4,450 crores have been made available by the Union government in the Delhi Budget for the year 2018-19,” he said.

The Kejriwal government, he alleged, had “deliberately” put files relating to approval of Delhi Metro’s fourth phase in cold storage.

The work of the same, he argued, had not taken off for the past two years.

Fourth phase of Metro

“Why does Mr. Kejriwal not want the benefits of the fourth phase to reach the villages in far-flung areas of Delhi, workers, women, youth, students and others?” the Rohini MLA asked.

The Chief Minister, Mr. Gupta claimed, had assured the Union Housing and Urban Development Minister six month ago that the proposal relating to the fourth phase would be sent after acceptance.

But, Mr. Gupta alleged, instead of submitting the approved proposal, recently, one of Mr. Kejriwal’s ministerial colleagues had said that they were carrying on an audit of certain Metro corridors.

“The Kejriwal-led government does not want to approve fourth phase by playing with the aspirations of the people. The Union government should go ahead with the scheme on its own in the larger interest of the people and the necessity of all areas of Delhi for modern and comfortable means of transport without further awaiting for approval of Delhi government as the people of Delhi deserve better,” he added.