Page 3 - Delhi Government

Delhi government presents outcome budget; here are some key takeaways

A majority of schemes under the Women and Child Development Department are on track, according to the Delhi government's Outcome Budget for 2022-23 presented in the Assembly on Monday. Out of 63 indicators for assessment, 71 per cent were on track, it said, adding that last year, out of 69 indicators for assessment, 80 per cent were on track. About 3.47 lakh women in distress was given monthly financial assistance in 2022-23 against 3.12 lakh women in distress in 2021-22, it said. About 2,060 poor widows were given financial assistance (Rs 30,000) for marriage of their daughters. As many as 31,743 girls were enrolled (at birth stage + school stage) under the Ladli scheme till December 2022. The report also said that 21,336 maturity cases have been paid till the third quarter of year 2022-23. About 6.38 lakh children and pregnant/nursing mothers are accessing services of nutrition, vaccination and health services, it said. Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot presented the Outc

Give food, water, livelihood to people relocated from Bhairo Marg slums: HC

The Delhi High Court has directed authorities to provide food, clean drinking water, livelihood and transport facilities to individuals who will be relocated from the slums at Bhairo Marg here that have to be demolished. The high court said that though the Delhi government has sought to make efforts to rehabilitate slum dwellers on paper, the ground reality is far from desirable. Due to this, this court finds it necessary to reiterate that the right to housing, being a part and parcel of the right to livelihood, health, food, clean drinking water, sewerage and transport facilities, such facilities must be provided to individuals who will be relocated to Geeta Colony, Dwarka, a bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said. The court also noted that it has already been directed that an alternative shelter should be provided to the cattle staying in a cow shelter run by the petitioner organisation on the land. The order by the division bench came wh

Delhi govt tables Eco Survey, per capita income grew by 14.18% in 2022-23

The survey was tabled by Delhi Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday in the Assembly

Delhi Eco Survey: AAP govt's per capita income rises 14.18% to Rs 4,44,768

Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot on Monday tabled the Delhi Economic Survey in the Assembly. According to the survey report, the per capita income of Delhi at current prices reached at the level of Rs 3,89,529 in 2021-22 as compared to Rs 3,31,112 in 2020-21. "The Advance Estimate of Per Capita Income of Delhi at current prices during 2022-23 estimated at Rs 4,44,768 registering a growth of 14.18 per cent over the previous year," it said. Delhi's per capita income has always been around 2.6 times higher when compared to the national average, both at current and constant prices, it noted. "Overall economic activity in Delhi has recovered faster compared to the national level, past the pre-pandemic levels. In the years 2021-22 and 2022-23, a sharp recovery of real GSDP of Delhi with a growth of 9.14 per cent and 9.18 per cent, respectively is based on a low base effect and inherent strengths of the economy," it said. The Delhi government's revenue receipts consist of tax revenue, .

Education, health to get highest share in Delhi's 2023-24 budget: Official

Education and health sector will get the highest allocation in the annual budget of the Arvind Kejriwal government for the 2023-24 financial year, officials said on Sunday. In the 2022-23 Delhi Budget, the education sector received the highest allocation of Rs 16,278 crore, a slight decline from the previous fiscal budgetary outlay of Rs 16,377 crore. The health was allocated Rs 9,769 crore in the 2022-23 budget while it was Rs 9,934 crore in the previous budget. According to government officials, new tablets will be provided to all teachers, including regular, guest and contractual, vice principals and principals of Delhi government schools. "Dr Ambedkar Schools of Specialized Excellence (SoSE) started with 20 institutes in 2021. This will be increased to 37 in the coming financial year with a capacity of about 10,000 children," said an official. The official said Delhi government schools will work closely with their feeder schools in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to improve

BJP trying to topple Delhi govt by offering money to MLAs, alleges AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that the BJP, which has only eight MLAs in the Delhi Assembly, is trying to topple the Arvind Kejriwal government by offering money to legislators under the guise of a no-confidence motion. Addressing a press conference here, the AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is offering two options to his party MLAs -- they should either join the saffron party or the CBI-ED will put them in jail. The BJP is planning to bring a no-confidence motion against the Kejriwal government during the ongoing session of the Delhi Assembly. "The AAP has 62 MLAs with a thumping majority and the BJP has eight MLAs. But the BJP wants to topple the government by buying MLAs under the guise of a no-confidence motion, just like governments that fell from Madhya Pradesh to Maharashtra. Here are the options that the BJP is giving to our MLAs -- join the BJP or the CBI-ED will put you in jail," Chadha said. "The BJP has been losing

Centre, Delhi govt to help pay DMRC award money it owes to DAMEPL: HC

The Delhi High Court Friday directed the Centre and the city government to attend to the request of DMRC for extension of sovereign guarantees or subordinate debt to enable it to make payment of dues of an arbitral award passed in favour of Reliance Infrastructure-owned Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited. The high court said the decision has to be taken by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Delhi government within two weeks and if the permission is accorded to the DMRC, it will deposit the entire amount payable under the award along with up-to-date interest within a period of one month. "If the Union ministry or Delhi government decline the request for providing sovereign guarantees or subordinate debt, the Union ministry shall forthwith or at the end of two weeks revert and repatriate all monies received by it from DMRC post March 10, 2022 so as to ensure that the credit balance of the DMRC, total project and total other funds reflects the balance as it

Dignity of speech has been shattered in last few days: Delhi LG V K Saxena

Amid an ongoing tussle with the APP government, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Friday said that the dignity of speech has been shattered in the last few days but asserted that the relations will remain intact since it is "our government". While exiting the Delhi Assembly, following his maiden address on the first day of the budget session, he was asked by reporters about the sour relations between him and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was accompanying him at the time. "See, there is no doubt that in the last few days, some limits that exist in speech have been shattered. But I would like to say one thing. A tree has said a very beautiful line for the wind It makes my leaves fall every day, but still my relations do not break with it. This is our government, how can relations break," he told reporters. His remarks came amid a war of words between the city government and his office over a range of issues, including sending teachers of state-run schools to Finland for .

Delhi govt overcoming various hurdles being put in its way: Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said various hurdles were being put in the way of the city government but it was overcoming them to work for people. Talking to reporters after the conclusion of the first day of the budget session of Delhi Assembly, he said LG V K Saxena had also said that the government has been working despite various obstacles. "There is interference in the functioning of the government. Various obstacles are being put but we are crossing them and working with the support of the people of Delhi. Not only the people of Delhi but the entire country acknowledges this," Kejriwal said. While exiting the assembly, Saxena said in the last few days, the dignity of speech has been shattered. When Kejriwal was asked about the remarks, he said: "These are small things. Democracy should be respected. If two crore people have chosen a government, it should be allowed to work. It is not good to interfere in its functioning," he said.

Not many H3N2 cases in Delhi but urged officials to do screening: Bhardwaj

Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday said the city government has directed authorities to conduct early screening to detect cases of influenza in the national capital. Addressing a press conference, he said though the peak of seasonal influenza is over by March, a large number of cases are being registered this time in parts of the country. "People who have had severe asthma or Covid are among those impacted the most by influenza. Extra precaution is needed for those aged above 65 and children below five years of age," he said. The Delhi health minister said the Centre has issued Covid advisory for six states but Delhi is not on the list. "However, we are issuing an advisory to check the spread of influenza," Bharadwaj said. "Instructions have been issued to authorities for early screening to detect cases. There are not many cases in Delhi hospitals an we are closely monitoring the situation," he said. Bharadwaj also said that the city government has no plan for makin

Students performing well due to Delhi govt's focus on education: LG Saxena

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday said the city government's focus on improving the education sector had ensured that students are performing well now. During his maiden address in Delhi Assembly on the first day of the budget session, Saxena said the government is upgrading the education and health infrastructure in the national capital. "New hospitals will add 16,000 beds while existing hospitals are being upgraded," he said.

Feedback Unit case: CBI slaps new case on former Delhi Dy CM Manish Sisodia

Delhi's jailed former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has been booked by the CBI in a new case related to alleged misuse of official position and financial impropriety in the government's Feedback Unit (FBU) which was also used for "political snooping", officials said Thursday. Already arrested by the CBI in the excise policy case and at present in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate, the woes of 51-year-old Sisodia aggravated after the agency registered a fresh case against him and five others on Tuesday for alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery and under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, they said. The agency booked Sisodia, a 1992-batch IRS officer Sukesh Kumar Jain who was then secretary of vigilance, retired CISF DIG Rakesh Kumar Sinha who was working as special advisor to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and joint director in the Feedback Unit, they said. Besides, former joint deputy director of Intelligence Bureau Pradeep Kumar

Draft Master Plan for Delhi-2041 likely to be notified by March-end

The draft Master Plan for Delhi-2041 is likely to be notified by the end of March, officials said on Thursday. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had earlier this month approved the draft master plan with Lt Governor VK Saxena highlighting its thrust for inclusive development, sustainability and innovative interventions such as transit-oriented development hubs, land pooling, heritage and Yamuna rejuvenation, and regeneration of the city. "The DDA has already approved the draft Master Plan and we are in the process of sending it to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. We are hopeful that the ministry will approve it by the end of this month or by early April, following which it will be notified," said an official. The first master plan was promulgated in 1962 under the Delhi Development Act, 1957. These plans are prepared for 20 years' perspective periods and provide a holistic framework for planned development of the city. The draft Master Plan of Delhi - 2041 is a ...

CBI books Manish Sisodia in case connected to Delhi govt's Feedback Unit

The CBI has registered an FIR against former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and others in connection with the Delhi Government's Feedback Unit (FBU) which was allegedly doing political snooping, officials said on Thursday. The agency has booked Sisodia, a 1992-batch IRS officer Sukesh Kumar Jain who was then secretary of vigilance, retired CISF DIG Rakesh Kumar Sinha who was working as special advisor to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and joint director in FBU, they said. Besides, former joint deputy director of Intelligence Bureau Pradeep Kumar' Punj, who was working as deputy director of the Feedback Unit, retired assistant commandant of CISF Satish Khetrapal who was working as feedback officer and Gopal Mohan, advisor, anti-corruption, to Kejriwal were also booked in the case, officials said. Sisodia was earlier arrested by CBI in the Delhi excise policy case and is behind bars in an Enforcement Directorate case. The AAP dispensation had proposed setting up the Feedb

Delhi govt's 2023-24 Budget outlay could be close to Rs 80,000 cr

With boosted tax revenue, the Delhi government's budget outlay for 2023-24, to be tabled in the upcoming assembly session, may be close to Rs 80,000 crore, officials said on Wednesday. The tax collection of the government in the current and the next financial year is expected to remain as per estimates, they said The annual budget size of the government for 2022-23 was Rs 75,800 crore and Rs 69,000 crore in the year earlier. The budget session of Delhi assembly will start on March 17 with Lt Governor VK Saxena addressing the House.The budget will be presented on March 21 and it will be preceded by an Outcome Budget of the government. Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot will present his first budget in the assembly. He was given charge of the department after the resignation of deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia who was arrested by the ED in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case. "Budget preparation is exciting but a very time consuming exercise. Days are filled with end

Delhi government extends old excise policy for six-month: Official

The Delhi government has extended its old excise policy for the next six months, officials said on Wednesday. The government has also directed the Excise department to soon come up with a new policy, they said. The government had reverted to its old excise policy in September last year, after withdrawing excise policy 2021-22. The excise policy 2021-22 was withdrawn by the Delhi government after LG VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in its implementation. Former deputy chief minister and minister in charge of Excise department Manish Sisodia was recently arrested by the ED in connection with an alleged liquor scam in Delhi.

Delhi legislators get massive 66% hike in their salary and allowances

Delhi's legislators will now get an over 66 per cent hike in their salaries and allowances as a proposal by the Delhi government to increase their pay has received the president's nod. The Delhi government has issued a notification to this effect. According to the notification, an MLA who used to draw a total monthly pay of Rs 54,000 will now get Rs 90,000. Their monthly basic salary has been increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 30,000. Their constituency allowance has been raised from Rs 18,000 to Rs 25,000, while the conveyance allowance has been hiked from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000. The telephone allowance has been hiked from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000, while the secretariat allowance has been raised from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. The overall pay of the ministers, Speaker and Deputy Speaker, chief whip, and the leader of opposition has been increased from Rs 72,000 to Rs 1.70 lakh per month. Their monthly basic salary has been raised from the current Rs 20,000 to Rs 60,000. Their constituency

Delhi govt has no plan to revise power subsidy scheme, says Atishi

The Delhi government has no plan to revise its power subsidy scheme and it will continue without any restrictions of sanctioned load to consumers, Power Minister Atishi said on Monday. She told reporters the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission had issued a statutory advice to the Delhi government in 2020, asking it to consider restricting electricity subsidy to the poor and needy consumers. The DERC withdrew the advisory on January 6 this year, saying the issue did not fall under its jurisdiction. Last week, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena asked Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to direct the power department to place the DERC advisory before the council of ministers and take a decision within 15 days. "The Delhi government is committed to ensure round-the-clock power supply. There is no plan to revise the subsidy scheme as was reported recently. The LG was perhaps briefed incorrectly because the DERC has withdrawn its statutory advice," Atishi said. She also said the government will

Delhi govt to add 100 electric buses to DTC fleet by April first week

The Delhi Transport Corporation is likely to add 100 more electric buses to its fleet by March-end or the first week of April, officials said on Sunday. The new additions will take the Delhi Transport Corporation's (DTC) electric bus fleet to 400. Delhi Transport Commissioner Ashish Kundra recently visited Tata Motors' Lucknow plant to inspect the buses. Last month, DTC MD Shilpa Shinde visited Karnataka to oversee the prototype models. "We will get 100 electric buses by March-end or the first week of April. After that, 200-250 buses will arrive every month. "A DTC team had gone to Karnataka to see the prototype. It has been cleared and now we have come to the manufacturing plant in Lucknow for a formal inspection of the buses," said an official. Equipped with security features such as CCTV cameras and panic buttons, these buses will hit the national capital's roads in the next three to four weeks following the configuration and registration process, he added. The 100 new electri

After ED questioning over Delhi liquor policy, Kavitha meets Telangana CM

After being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) over the Delhi liquor policy scam, Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) leader and Telangana MLC, K. Kavitha, returned from Delhi