The deputy CM said because the Centre was not providing financial assistance, the government was unable to help out the cash-strapped municipal corporations. (Source: Express Photo by Praveen Khanna) The deputy CM said because the Centre was not providing financial assistance, the government was unable to help out the cash-strapped municipal corporations. (Source: Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

The vote on account presented by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia listed out the city government’s demands from the Centre. It also listed out heads under which the government was contributing to the Centre’s income and yet was not receiving adequate financial assistance from the Union government.

The deputy CM said because the Centre was not providing financial assistance, the government was unable to help out the cash-strapped municipal corporations.

“The Delhi government gives financial aid to municipal corporations. We were supposed to get Rs 600 crore from the Centre but we did not get this amount and, therefore, we could not give corporations the money they demanded,” Sisodia said.

“We only demand that Centre should give us 0.65 per cent of the total service tax which it gets from Delhi. With this, Delhi would get Rs 4,000 crore,” he said.

The gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Delhi at current price in the current year is likely to attain a level of Rs 4,51,154 crore, showing a growth of 15.35 pre cent over the previous year, Sisodia said.

“At constant price, Delhi’s economy is poised to grow at the rate of 8.2 per cent during 2014-15, compared to the 7.4 per cent growth at the national level. Delhi’s contribution to the national GDP is 3.86 per cent, though we are only 1.4 per cent of the total population of the country. The annual per capita income of Delhi in 2014-15 is anticipated to increase to Rs 2,40,849, which is 2.7 times higher than the per capita income at the national level, which is Rs 88,533,” Sisodia said.

He said Delhi contributes towards service tax, central excise, income tax and corporate tax and, when compared to other metropolitan cities, the contribution is ‘significant’. Yet, Delhi’s share of central taxes has remained stagnant at Rs 325 crore since 2001-02.

Sisodia quoted the 14th Central Finance Commission to BJP MLAs who have been pressing the government to table the 4th Delhi Finance Commission report in the House.

Sisodia said, “The commission has recommended increasing the devolution of central taxes to states from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. Delhi being a Union Territory is deprived of this. Had this recommendation been applied, Delhi would have received nearly Rs 25,000 crore between 2015 and 2020.”

BJP legislature party leader Vijender Gupta said if the chief minister has some issues regarding the funding Delhi gets from the Centre, he should approach the Niti Aayog and not indulge in a blame game.

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