"Never Brought To Me, All Concerned Departments Under CM:" Delhi LG Busts Arvind Kejriwal's "White Lies" On Water Bill Scheme

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena lashed out at Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his "white lies" and the resolution passed by the State Assembly on 19 February saying that the BJP exercises "direct control" over the LG.

In a letter written to the CM on Wednesday (28 February), Saxena said that such a resolution "not only breaches all propriety and constitutional provisions but also an affront to the constitutional office" of LG.

Saxena also called out the "false and misleading narrative being peddled in the Media" that accuses the LG of stalling a 'water scheme.' He pointed out that this scheme was never brought to him "even on a single piece of paper."

Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had accused the LG of stalling the water bill scheme yesterday. Kejriwal had said in a public address that the BJP asked Delhi LG to stop this scheme and officers have been threatened.

He listed the chronology of developments on this scheme that on 21 February, the Chief Secretary received a file indicating that scheme is still under formulation and despite that AAP passed resolution on 19 February.

Saxena also highlighted the sorry state of affairs in Delhi where 7 per cent of households are yet to receive piped water and only 82 per cent households have sewage connections.

He also said that since 2018, CAG audit of Delhi Jal Board has been kept pending and that it is facing "serious charges of corruption in matters of billing, award of contracts and inordinate delays in completion of projects."