NEW DELHI: Development has come to a standstill in east Delhi as the municipal corporation has cancelled all major projects sanctioned by the Trans-Yamuna Area Development Board last year. The decision was taken after Aam Aadmi Party disbanded the board during its stint in government and told the agency not to award new work.

Projects ranging from redevelopment of a lake in Jhil area to construction of community centres, schools, dispensaries, have been cancelled. Days before the collapse of the AAP-led government, the urban development department had directed the corporation to put on hold all new projects sanctioned by the board, officials said. “We had received Rs 35 crore from the government in two instalments before the assembly polls. Only the projects where work had started are being continued. We have cancelled projects where tenders were floated but the work was not awarded,” said an official of East Corporation.

The board has been the main source of funding for the corporation. It used to get close to Rs 80 crore annually for various developmental projects. The AAP government disbanded the board, as the party was keen on implementing Delhi Nagar Swaraj Bill, which allowed citizens to approve such projects.

Narendra Nath, former chairman of TYADB said, “They have disturbed the system. The board has been working for a long time and done considerable work. Along with big projects, most of the drain and road projects have been cancelled.”

The agency, sources said, has requested the LG office to release the third instalment of Rs 35-40 crore, which was to be released last year by the board to make payment for ongoing projects. With civic agency unable to pay for old projects, the contractors’ association is also planning a protest. “The corporation has not paid us for the past two years. If they don’t release the payment immediately, we will stop taking new projects, especially from councillors’ fund,” said Sunil Vohra, president of Delhi Municipal Contractors’ Association.

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