AAP accuses Saxena of delayed action

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 19

In a rebuttal to the Lieutenant-Governor’s (L-G) recent directive for inspections related to the desilting of drains, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the L-G of delaying action that should have been carried out months ago.

In a statement, the AAP pointed to a series of missteps and alleged corruption, accusing the L-G’s favoured officers of failing to ensure proper governance. The party noted that the Urban Development Minister had previously directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to submit timelines for desilting work by various agencies, including the MCD, PWD, DDA, I&FC and the NDMC.

However, according to the AAP, rather than taking concrete steps to ensure the desilting was carried out effectively, the Chief Secretary was reportedly “busy making excuses” for not providing the required timelines. The party also criticised the Chief Secretary for failing to conduct a third-party audit of the desilting work, despite multiple directives to do so.

The AAP claims there is video evidence and written official notes proving that the L-G’s favoured officers knowingly contributed to misgovernance and corruption in desilting contracts. The party expressed frustration over the L-G’s failure to take action against these officers, stating, “The L-G is yet to take any action against the Chief Secretary or any of the Heads of Departments (HODs) who failed in their duties. This note by the L-G is of no consequence because the monsoon is almost over. If the L-G was truly serious about desilting, he should have taken action against the officers.”

The AAP also questioned why, despite the L-G’s acknowledgment that desilting was not carried out and that tenders worth crores of rupees failed due to corruption, no action has been taken against any HODs or officers of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) who neglected their duties. “If the L-G has accepted that sewers were not desilted, why is there no action against the officers of the DJB who failed to fulfil their responsibilities?” the AAP demanded.