Delhi Govt seeks Rs 927 cr from Centre for G20 preparations
New Delhi, February 4: The Delhi government has requested funds from the central government for G20 preparations in the national capital.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, wrote a letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman about the issue. Sisodia stated that because Delhi does not receive any additional funds from the Centre, Rs 927 crore should be given to Delhi separately for G20 preparations.
"It is a matter of great pleasure for India that this time India is hosting the G20 meeting. It is a matter of happiness for us Delhiites that most of the important activities of G20 are going to happen in Delhi only. The Government of Delhi will fully cooperate with the Government of India in the direction of making the organization of G-20 meeting a success," Sisodia said in the letter.
Under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, he stated that the entire Delhi government will make every effort to accommodate the international guests who came to our city during the G20 meeting.
"We will make sure that they return with unforgettable memories from Delhi as the capital of 21st-century India," he asserted.
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In this regard, the Deputy CM stated that various departments of the Delhi government have created a framework for organising various activities and programmes ranging from infrastructure development to community development. There are proposals in this for beautifying specific areas around G20 major venues, as well as organising some specific activities and programmes on this occasion at prominent locations in Delhi, he said.
Demanding additional funds, Sisodia stated that the Delhi government requires Rs 927 crore for special preparations for the G-20. Vinay Kumar Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, is also constantly reviewing these efforts.
The Lieutenant Governor has also given consent to all these efforts and programs for the preparations for the G20, he added.
"You already know that no money is being given by the Government of India to the Delhi Government as a share in central taxes. Nor is any additional grant given to the Delhi Government by the Government of India. Even the amount given to the municipal corporations of all the states of the country according to their population is not given to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. In such a situation, it is obvious that it will not be easy for the Delhi government to spend Rs 927 crores to prepare the G20 meeting with its regular limited resources."
"So I request that considering the importance of the G-20 meeting and in Delhi Keeping in view the need for preparations to make this event a success, Rs 927 crore required for this should be made available by the Central Government. This will help the Delhi government to implement all these schemes and programs smoothly and all the preparations will be completed in time. I have full hope that the Delhi government will get positive cooperation from you in this direction" Sisodia said.
- ANI
