An RTI query filed by the RTI activist Sanjeev Jain has revealed that Arvind Kejriwal led Delhi government sat on the Rs. 787 crore collected as environment cess and used only Rs. 93 lakh, or 0.13% of amount collected, that too toward pre-tendering incidental cost related to preparation of RFID documents.
The cess, collected by the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, is remitted to transport department which can be used for environment preservation and strengthening public transport. However, Kejriwal government has been a silent onlooker as toxic smog enveloped Delhi in last two weeks.
Meanwhile, Delhi government has decided to buy electric buses with the fund collected as electric cess.
Just in: @ArvindKejriwal Govt to utilise 787 Cr of Environment Cess Fund to buy Electric buses. CM has instructed Transport Minister to start the process. Gehlot meeting DIMTS officials for procurement of the same to strengthen non polluting public transport system.
— Ankit Tyagi (@Ankit_Tyagi01) November 15, 2017
However, AAP rebel leader, Kapil Mishra called out Arvind Kejriwal on lack of financial feasibility of the same.
Dear @ArvindKejriwal – is it true that today u have ordered Trans Min to buy electric buses with ₹ 787 cr. that was unused.
One can buy three CNG Low floor AC buses at cost of one electric bus.
Govt itself decided in May this year that it’s too costly
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishraAAP) November 15, 2017
What is shocking is that despite being at fault, Kejriwal, who prefers running his government via Twitter instead of secretariat, is busy bickering with chief ministers of neighbouring states, M. L. Khattar of Haryana and Captain Amarinder of Punjab, over social networking site Twitter.
.@capt_amarinder Sir, I am coming to Chandigarh on Wed to meet Haryana CM. Would be grateful if u cud spare sometime to meet me. It is in collective interest
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 14, 2017
Sir, my office is constantly trying to fix meeting https://t.co/47LwxvQmjp
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 13, 2017
Owing to Kejriwal’s asinine behaviour, other chief ministers have taken to responding to him on Twitter, lest he accuses them of not reverting or cooperating.
My letter to Delhi CM @ArvindKejriwal regarding stubble burning & pollution. pic.twitter.com/3rd9Qvi5RQ
— Manohar Lal (@mlkhattar) November 13, 2017
Unfortunate that Arvind Kejriwal has singlehandedly brought down the dignity of political discourse to such low levels where he puts his personal gain over health of citizens of Delhi who actually voted him to power.
Yesterday, National Green Tribunal (NGT) had reprimanded Delhi government for not taking the pollution level seriously and rejected their odd-even exemption plea. Slamming Delhi government, NGT asked Delhi government whether it considers the toxic air quality in Delhi a joke.
Today, Delhi chief minister met Haryana chief minister in Chandigarh and they agreed to take possible steps to tackle pollution.
We had a very positive discussion, we will take all steps possible to tackle the situation: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal after meeting Haryana CM #pollution pic.twitter.com/Sg9XqMdsvn
— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2017
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister continues his drama on Twitter by retweeting passive aggressive tweets blaming the governments of neighbouring states, Haryana and Punjab, for the air pollution over Delhi.
