Municipal Corporation of Delhi Faces Opposition Scrutiny Over 2026-27 Budget Proposals
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) initiated the crucial process of finalizing its budget estimates for the fiscal year 2026-27 on Monday, a move immediately met with fierce criticism from the opposition benches. Leader of Opposition Ankush Narang launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led civic body, characterizing the proposed budget as "hawa-hawai" – a term denoting hollowness and lack of substance – while accusing the administration of profound deficiencies in vision, execution, and accountability.
Budget Labeled as 'Cosmetic' with No Tangible Impact
Addressing the House during the budget discussions, Narang asserted that the financial plan presented was merely "cosmetic" in nature, existing solely on paper without translating into visible, significant work across critical municipal domains. He highlighted glaring gaps in several essential services, including sanitation, waste management, public education, healthcare infrastructure, air pollution control measures, and the maintenance of public parks.
The opposition leader specifically pointed to the neglect of contractual staff, such as multi-tasking employees (MTS) and sanitation workers, noting the complete absence of provisions for their regularization in the budget. He dismissed promises made to these workers as "jumlas" (empty rhetoric), emphasizing that "not a single rupee" had been allocated specifically for MTS employees despite their crucial role in municipal operations.
Healthcare Infrastructure and Worker Welfare Under Fire
Narang further criticized the BJP's approach to healthcare, alleging that the mere renaming of dispensaries to "Arogya Mandirs" had done little to improve the deteriorating condition of hospitals. He revealed alarming vacancies in the healthcare workforce, with approximately 500 doctor posts and 1,500 nurse positions remaining unfilled, leading to significant delays in patient care.
"The budget presented by the standing committee chairperson has no concrete plan to address these vacancies or upgrade the infrastructure of major hospitals, some of which remain underutilized due to a severe lack of resources," Narang stated during his address.
Recalling last year's 33-day agitation by MTS staff, sanitation workers, doctors, and nurses, he painted a poignant picture of these employees being forced to celebrate Diwali on the streets while demanding equal pay and regularization. "There is ample money allocated for events and publicity campaigns, but not Rs 42 crore for MTS staff or Rs 40 crore for their regularization," he lamented.
Financial Discrepancies and Safety Concerns Highlighted
The opposition leader also raised serious questions about financial management, noting a dramatic 42% reduction in proposed estimates. The revised budget estimates for 2025-26 stood at Rs 1,48,393 lakh, while the proposed estimates for 2026-27 were significantly lower at Rs 85,847 lakh. "Where this money went must be accounted for," Narang demanded, calling for greater transparency in municipal finances.
He further alleged that the MCD's increased income was achieved by imposing additional burdens on citizens through heightened property taxes, penalties, and pressure on small traders, even as approximately Rs 12,000 crore owed by various government departments remained unrecovered.
In a particularly poignant moment, Narang referenced the tragic drowning of a six-year-old child at the Pitampura Community Centre swimming pool in June 2025, criticizing the budget for making no provision for essential safety measures. He noted the absence of allocations for lifeguards, CCTV cameras, emergency response systems, or comprehensive safety audits, despite funds being readily available for publicity initiatives.
Regularization Claims Questioned
Narang challenged the BJP's claims of regularizing 1,336 employees, describing them as misleading. He argued that these workers continued to operate without proper pay scales, pension benefits, or job security, undermining the purported achievements of the civic administration.
The budget session thus unfolded amid heightened tensions, with the opposition mounting a comprehensive critique that touched upon financial accountability, worker welfare, public safety, and the overall efficacy of municipal governance in India's capital city.
