The Delhi Legislative Assembly is set to convene for a significant four-day session starting January 5, with a sharp focus on the capital's persistent pollution crisis and the scrutiny of three crucial audit reports. Art, Culture, and Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra announced the agenda on Tuesday, highlighting that the government will table a detailed proposal on pollution and present reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
Core Agenda: Pollution and Scrutiny of CAG Findings
Minister Kapil Mishra stated that the Assembly will conduct a thorough examination of the root causes of pollution in the national capital. The session will involve an assessment of past measures taken to combat the environmental hazard. "We will discuss what the previous government has done. We will also discuss the affidavits which were submitted in the Supreme Court and what their current status is with regard to mitigating pollution," Mishra explained during a press conference. He also extended an invitation to the opposition to provide their feedback on strategies to battle pollution.
Alongside pollution, the session will table and discuss three specific CAG reports. These include an audit on the functioning of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) till 2022, a report on Delhi government-run universities till 2023, and a report on the property commonly referred to as "Sheeshmahal" – the 6, Flagstaff Road residence of former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The term "Sheeshmahal" was popularized by the BJP to critique the alleged opulence of the residence.
Details of the CAG Reports to be Tabled
Mishra provided insights into the contents of the audit reports. Regarding the DJB, he said, "There is a detailed report on the functioning of DJB till 2022. It has all the details of all the irregularities which caused the sewage system of the city to collapse." This indicates the session will delve into alleged governance and operational failures in the city's water utility.
Concerning the universities, the minister added, "The CAG report on irregularities in the functioning of universities governed by Delhi government will be tabled, and all the corruption that occurred in the functioning of the universities till 2023 will be exposed." The report on "Sheeshmahal" is also expected to be a point of intense political debate.
Political Reactions and Accusations
The announcement has already sparked reactions from opposition parties. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav accused the current government of attempting a cover-up. He questioned, "Why did the CM not take any action on the irregularities found in the 14 CAG reports on corruption committed by the previous AAP government, till date? If action was taken against the guilty in the first session itself, then those who indulge in corruption could have been brought to book." He alleged the Rekha Gupta government was resorting to a blame game to hide its own failures.
In response, AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha signaled that his party would counter by seeking accountability from the BJP-led central government's tenure. "AAP will seek an account of BJP government's 10 months of work in the winter session," Jha stated, setting the stage for a potentially contentious exchange in the Assembly hall.
The upcoming session, therefore, promises to be a pivotal one, combining critical policy discussion on Delhi's air quality with intense political scrutiny of past administrative and financial conduct across several key institutions.
