Tussle with finance dept: DJB blinks, submits geotag report

Sources in DJB said, “About 6,500-7,000 projects are ongoing. Geotagging all of them is taking time. We have carried out geo-tagging of about 250 projects, which have a budget of above Rs 5 crore. Geotagging process of another 100 ongoing projects is under process.”

Officials said since DJB’s key work is to lay water pipelines and ensure water supply, a number of projects are within Rs 10 lakh budget. “It is taking time to geotag the small projects but the work is under process. We have submitted the reports of the big projects…We are expecting to receive some amounts for these projects in a few days,” they said.

Sources in the Delhi government confirmed the DJB has submitted the required information to the Planning department through the Urban Development department.

A few weeks ago, Water Minister Atishi had said that despite several orders from her, the finance department was not releasing the second installment of funds to the DJB. She also wrote a letter to the L-G, alleging that the capital might plunge into a severe “man-made” water crisis.

Responding to the minister’s allegation, officials in the planning department said, “Government does not give funds to DJB for salaries or repairs and maintenance. These are to be met from DJB’s revenues… The government provides loans and grants only for new works and funds are to be released based on progress on ground.”

“We are waiting for geotagging information. Funds will be released as and when it is received. Geotagging is mandatory for payment,” Finance Secretary Ashish C Verma had earlier said.

The Delhi government on Tuesday said: “These are mere excuses under the pretext of geotagging…to withhold the disbursement of funds at the expense of Delhiites’ convenience. The contractors have already stalled works being done for the people of Delhi.”