The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that BJP ruled municipal corporations are involved in massive financial misappropriation of thousands of crores of rupees, as the money collected as “conversion” charges from the shopkeepers or traders over the decades has been parked in other accounts.
The party labeled the allegation that the money collected by the corporation in the name of conversion charges which is meant to be deposited in “escrow” account is rather deposited in general account. The AAP alleged that this is deliberately being done by the municipal corporations and BJP leaders so that the money meant for the public welfare and development of area should land into their pockets.
“As per the book of accounts mentioned in Masterplan 2021, the amount collected as conversion charges, one time registration and one time parking charge should be deposited under one head called escrow account by the local body concerned for incurring expenditure for developing parking sites, augmentation of amenities, infrastructure and environmental improvement programme for areas from where these conversion charges were collected,” said Dilip Pandey, AAP leader.
The AAP accused that the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is acting as if there is no accountability due to which traders are in lurch.
“Due to demonetisation and GST the backbone of traders is already broken, and on the top of that sealing and FDI have broken them completely,” said Pandey.
He said that the conversion charge is a scam by SDMC and BJP which is almost equal to Rs 1000 crore.
“SDMC has collected Rs 966 crore as conversion charge, Rs 61 crore as parking charges, collected from different zone and over different time periods,” said Dilip.
Responding to the charges of AAP, SDMC Mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat, refuted the claims of AAP outrightly denying it. She stated that no amount as alleged by AAP leader Dalip Pandey has been transferred to the general account from the escrow account and there is no misappropriation in the funds of escrow account. She said that as per the provision of Master Plan 2021 and escrow account, SDMC is constructing and providing public utility services. SDMC claims that it has already developed 11 multilevel parking in its Central, South & west Zones.
Also, in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation , leader of opposition from AAP Rakesh Kumar has alleged that when he requested the Mayor for initiating discussion on the sealing in the house, the BJP members started sloganeering against the Delhi Government.