Delhi BJP Exposed Water Scam, Alleging A Massive Rs 3,237 Crore Corruption In Delhi Jal Board Under Arvind Kejriwal
The BJP demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged corruption within the Delhi Jal Board
New Delhi: Delhi BJP has brought to light a staggering scam of approximately Rs 3,237 crore within the Delhi Jal Board, placing the blame squarely on Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. In a joint press conference led by Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Minister Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi and BJP Delhi Pradesh President Shri Virendra Sachdeva, the party exposed what they termed as the "Water Scam."
The BJP demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged corruption within the Delhi Jal Board, urging CM Kejriwal to initiate the investigation. Failing that, the party vowed to request the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to intervene and conduct a CBI inquiry into the matter.
Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi took a dig at Kejriwal, questioning the financial discrepancies in the Delhi Jal Board despite an increase in consumers. She emphasized the need for accountability, calling for Kejriwal to address the water scam in Delhi.
Highlighting various financial irregularities, Lekhi pointed out that the Delhi Jal Board had concealed information about expenditures from 2018-19 to 2022-23, with no detailed declaration of accounts since 2017-18. Numerous anomalies were discovered, including unaccounted balances in multiple bank accounts and discrepancies in financial reports.
The BJP alleged that the Delhi Jal Board had not shown the balance of approximately 110 accounts out of its 450 bank accounts, with more than Rs 100 crore lying in 77 bank accounts. Transactions worth Rs 300 crore were untraceable, and Rs 1,167 crore was unaccounted for in the 2018 financial report.
Additionally, the BJP accused the Delhi Jal Board of awarding works worth Rs 600 crore without proper tender processes, echoing patterns observed in previous scams. Illegal payments for water tankers and an overall increase in project costs were attributed to alleged favoritism toward individuals associated with the Aam Aadmi Party.
In the face of these accusations, the BJP called upon Kejriwal to provide transparent answers, hold a press conference on the issue, and ensure an honest CBI investigation. They questioned whether Minister Atishi Marlena would address the matter and urged the Kejriwal government to take legal action against its implicated officials.
Virendra Sachdeva, BJP Delhi State President, asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party had become a hub of corruption, drawing parallels with the liquor scam. He accused the Delhi Jal Board of inflating payments for water supply through tankers, allegedly for kickbacks, and claimed that water supply contracts were selectively given to AAP affiliates to facilitate commission.
The BJP's allegations underscored a deepening political controversy, urging the Kejriwal government to address the accusations transparently and take decisive action against corruption within the Delhi Jal Board.
