NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on July 3 directed the Delhi government to provide details of money spent on advertisements in the last three financial years.
The court's direction came as the AAP government expressed its inability to provide funds for regional rapid transit system (RRTS) projects for Delhi-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat corridors.
Hearing a plea in the PIL by M C Mehta, a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia said, "We want to see the funds spent for advertisements."
The court also wondered why there are no funds for a project that would ensure smooth transportation, however, the same are allocated for advertisements.
The Delhi government counsel submitted in December 2020, the state government had informed the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) about its inability to provide their share of funds.
A counsel, appearing for NCRTC, contended that the entire scheme of three corridors will be defeated if it is restricted to only Delhi-Meerut corridor.
The Delhi government submitted that in 2020, it had communicated that funds were not available with it and the position was worsened on account of Covid pandemic.
The GST compensation provided by the Centre has also been stopped since the last financial year and therefore, there are no finances available, the state government counsel said.
The bench, then, said, Since the paucity of funds is an impediment in this project, we call upon the NCT of Delhi to file an affidavit on funds utilized for advertisement. The project is of considerable importance, we will divert the funds. Details to be furnished for the period of the last three financial years.
The NCRTC counsel said every year delay is causing Rs 1500 crore cost escalation.
The state government counsel pointed out that the funds are upwards of Rs 5000 crore.
"Is it required at one go? But over a period of time. Let us see how much you spend on other things, it is a development project, you are saying you are unable to make budgetary provisions for it, that is the problem, the bench told the counsel.
The bench asked the Delhi government to file the affidavit in a period of two weeks.
Senior advocate A D N Rao appeared as amicus curiae in the matter.
The matter before the court was related to Delhi-Alwar (Rs 37,987 crore) and Delhi-Panipat RRTS (29,296 crore) corridors projects.
