In Today’s Municipal House meet MCD Councillor Amit Nagpal poses a hot question -Despite constant complaints of budget shortages, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has failed to act on crores of rupees in pending dues, raising serious questions. MCD Councillor Amit Nagpal stated that under the Pay-Leave-Charge account, agencies operating within MCD’s jurisdiction—such as NDPL, BSES, and other companies—owe approximately ₹5,000 to ₹7,000 crore, yet the Corporation remains indifferent to recovery.
Nagpal pointed out that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has constructed malls at several locations without departmental approval, and the Corporation does not collect any taxes from them. He added that legal cases related to metro parking are ongoing, causing continuous revenue loss. He recommended that such cases be brought on track and licenses of violators be revoked.
He further highlighted that while construction above 30 meters is prohibited, Pacific Mall has a structure reaching 42 meters, which must be investigated immediately. Similarly, the failure to collect commercial taxes from banquet halls and industrial areas raises concerns about MCD’s revenue policy.
Raising concerns about infrastructure quality, Nagpal said that slabs built over drains are of poor quality, with 6 or 8 mm rods being used instead of the standard 10 mm. Cement quality also fails to meet standards. He suggested that acrylic slabs could be a better alternative.
Calling for reforms in the advertising policy, Nagpal said that shopkeepers should be charged only for extra-sized advertisements. He also mentioned that a hotel in his ward has illegally extended a four-foot balcony onto the main road—such constructions must be dealt with immediately.
Nagpal demanded that spa centers operating in residential areas be shut down, as they pose a threat to local peace and safety. He also recommended reducing the height of electric poles from 16 meters to 12 meters to prevent accidents and disorder.
In conclusion, he said that before complaining about budget shortages, the Corporation must clean up its own house. If MCD recovers its dues and collects taxes properly, Delhi’s civic services can be improved without relying on external funding.
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