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Najeeb Jung offers 300-cr loan to 2 MCDs to end stir

Kashmir Times. Dated: 2/6/2016 12:30:44 AM

NEW DELHI, Feb 5 (Agencies): Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today offered Rs 300 crore loan to two cash-strapped civic bodies here to bring an end to the strike by nearly 90,000 municipal employees which entered its 10th day crippling multiple services.
Jung's office said money will be given to the East and North Delhi municipal corporations as loan from Delhi Development Authority. On Wednesday, the Delhi government had announced a financial assistance of Rs 693 crore to the civic bodies out of which Rs 551 crore was loan.
After the announcement, Jung appealed to the strikers to call off their agitation in the interest of the city.
The striking municipal employees had refused to end the strike after the Delhi government's announcement, saying they want "permanent solution" to their problems. The agitators include sanitation workers, doctors, nurses, teachers and engineers.
Jung today separately met the three Mayors of the BJP-ruled municipal corporations as also the representatives of the MCD Employee Unions at Raj Niwas.
"With a view to resolving the issue at hand and keeping in mind the difficulties being faced by the people of Delhi, the Lt Governor made a unilateral offer of Rs 300 crores loan to the North and East Corporation from DDA," Jung's office said.
It said the Delhi government had already released an amount of Rs 693 crore and the additional Rs 300 crore would take the amount to a total of Rs 1000 crore which will take care of the salaries of all employees and officials of three MCDs till March 31, 2016.
"In view of this, the Lt Governor has appealed to the MCD Employee Unions to call off their strike and resume work in the interest of the city and the people of Delhi.
"The Lt Governor has also assured that he will speak to the Delhi government regarding the implementation of the fourth Finance Commission Report to find a long-term solution," said Jung's office.
The strike by the sanitation staff entered 10th day today crippling the garbage disposal system. They were joined by teachers, doctors, nurses and contractors of the civic bodies a few days back.
The Delhi government has been maintaining that it has given adequate funds to the three civic bodies and blamed financial mismanagement and graft for the current situation. It had also asked the three MCDs to recover dues to the tune of Rs 1,500 crore from DDA to tide over the situation.