Kejriwal govt non-performing in implementation of central schemes: Hardeep Singh Puri

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday attacked the Delhi government, claiming that it was "non-performing" in many cases when it came to the implementation of the central schemes in the national capital. Puri claimed that the Centre had set a target of building 1.25 lakh toilets in Delhi under Swachh Bharat Mission but the government could build only 750 toilets.

New Delhi: Launching a blistering attack on the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said that AAP government in Delhi has been an under-performing and non-performing government in the implementation of central schemes.

Speaking to reporters at an event here, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister said, "Delhi is on all (central government) schemes that I am aware of. It is under-performing and in many cases, it is a non-performing government." However, the minister assured that the BJP-led central government will ensure that people get all facilities being delivered through its various schemes, be it the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban and others, which a 'non-performing (Delhi) government' could not do.

Diving into details, Hardeep Singh Puri claimed that the Centre had set a target of building 1.25 lakh toilets in Delhi under Swachh Bharat Mission but the government could build only 750 toilets. Puri also accused the AAP government of not drafting proposals for building the toilets.

When asked about the BJP's CM candidate for Delhi, Puri said that the decision on the same would be taken by party's senior leadership. Meanwhile, he added that Manoj Tiwari is a "very close friend" of his and expressed confidence that the saffron party will clinch the upcoming assembly polls in Delhi.

Talking about the PMAY-U, Puri claimed that the Centre has not received any proposal under the central scheme from the Delhi government.

According to the ministry, there have been only 16,000 cases of Credit Link Subsidy Scheme under PMAY-U in Delhi, which were received from individuals and not the AAP government in the national capital.

Under CLSS, the Centre provides an interest subsidy of up to around Rs 2.67 lakh on home loans to individuals, which reduces the principal outstanding amount of the loan.

Puri said that his government will provide a pucca house to every resident of Delhi as the Centre is currently working on whether it should be implemented through the PMAY or the Delhi Development Authority.

Seeing the attitude of the Delhi government on the issue of unauthorised colonies, the Centre decided to complete all formalities on their own to confer ownership rights to the residents of these colonies, he claimed.

'The issue of unauthorised colonies had been pending since 2008. The Delhi government had assured us that an agency was working to fix boundaries of these colonies in 2017, but in 2019, they sought more time.

'Seeing the attitude of the AAP government, we decided to do it on our own,' he said.

Puri added that an online portal will be prepared before December 15 through which people living in unauthorised colonies will be able to apply for ownership rights.