NEW DELHI: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday wrote a letter to Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and demanded Rs 927 crore for the G20 summit preparations.Beginning March 1, Delhi will host eight major G20 events, including the main summit in September.Sisodia stated in the letter, “It is a matter of great pride for India that it is the host of the G20 summit. It is a matter of even more pride for us Delhiites that most of the important G20 events will take place in Delhi. Delhi government will provide full assistance to the Centre in order to make the planning of the summit a success.”“Various Delhi government departments have prepared a plan for infrastructure development and different programmes. The government requires Rs 927 crore in order to fulfil these special preparations,” he wrote.Delhi government and LG’s office have planned to repair roads, clear encroachments on footpaths, control stray cattle menace, hold vintage car rallies and organise food festivals ahead of the summit. Specific tasks were recently assigned to 26 different agencies to make the city ready for the grand event.Sisodia, who is also the finance minister of Delhi, further wrote, “You would be aware that Delhi government has not received any financial support from the central government as its share from the central taxes. It also does not receive any extra grants from the Centre.”Even the funds being given to civic bodies in other states according to their population are not being provided to Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the minister alleged and added that Delhi government would find it difficult to spend an extra Rs 927 crore out of the regular financial resources.BJP said that “the letter proves that Delhi government’s earlier claim of surplus budget was false.”Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “It is surprising to see Sisodia, on the one hand, saying that the G20 summit happening in Delhi is a prestigious issue for Delhiites and on the other, seeking Rs 927 crore from Centre for its preparations.”“The Kejriwal government has all along claimed to have a surplus budget… Hence, it is shocking to see Sisodia seeking money from the Centre,” he added.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-government-asks-for-rs-927-crore-from-centre-for-g20-preparations/articleshow/97611070.cms