New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday rejected claims that the Delhi government owes money to the civic bodies and instead asked the DDA, which comes under the Centre, to release Rs 1,500 crore as property tax to the MCDs.


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In an open letter released in newspapers, Kejriwal sought to "clear the air" about the government's role in the ongoing strike of sanitation workers saying it has released Rs 511 crore extra to the corporations this year as compared to the previous year.


Kejriwal said the notion that the workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation were on strike due to non-payment of salaries was wrong. "This strike is over their regularisation, and clearing their 10-15 year old dues and few other demands."


"The government has already paid the full amount to the corporations. Last year, till October Rs 1,859 crore was paid. This year Rs 2,370 crore has been paid which is Rs 511 crore more than last year."


"The corporations are to get Rs 1500 crore from DDA as property tax. Both DDA and the corporations are under the Centre. Our request is that the amount should be released soon," he said.


The Chief Minister appealed to the mayors of the three civic bodies to meet the demands of the workers as soon as possible and urged the striking workers to withdraw their agitation "as the people of Delhi are facing a lot of trouble."