Monday, Mar 10, 2003
Monday, Mar 10, 2003 |
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New Delhi
By Our Staff Reporter
Be it the decision to introduce property tax in the Capital, privatisation of toll-tax, opening up of Citizen Services Bureau, introduction of e-services, launch of twin-bins for segregation of garbage at source, involving private companies in cleanliness, voluntary and religious organisation in maintenance of cremation grounds, and many more, would change Delhi's face in the years to come. Though the role of the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, who has a vision for the Capital, could not be undermined, it is the Congress leadership in the MCD which gets the credit for the innovative and revolutionary steps initiated by the civic body in the past one year. People coming to the Capital after a few years comment that the city has become much cleaner. ``If the Congress continues with its reforms, which it set for itself, the MCD would once again regain its top slot in the field of urban governance in the country,'' said a senior retired bureaucrat. When the Congress was voted to power about an year ago with such a large number of Councillors, it was argued that the team would become unmanageable. In the first few months, it seems to be in particular after the shocking murder of its senior Councillor, Atma Ram Gupta. Factionalism was openly seen in the House and the Standing Committee meetings. Councillors mostly concentrated on transfer and postings. Though these have not ended, but have come down considerably. Though, the political differences still exist among various factions and their leaders in the MCD, the present team seems to have started co-ordinating well and working together for welfare of people. "But they still have a long way to go,'' observers feel. One of the major feature of the Congress rule has been the importance given to the Opposition BJP -- which has less than 20 members in the 134 member House -- in the MCD. The party leaders have gone out of their way to accommodate the view of BJP and give more time for their speeches during meetings. The Leader of House and Standing Committee Chairman, Ram Babu Sharma, during the past 11 months has always tried to arrive at a consensus even on small matters. No one would forget the surprise visit of the Delhi Mayor to the MCD godowns along with the BJP Councillor, Aarti Mehra, after the latter complained about non-distribution of sweaters during the winter. "This one could not have expected during BJP's rule in the last House,'' observers feel. Given the mess the Congress-inherited from the BJP in April 2002, it will take another few years when the measures taken by them now would be visible on the ground. Prominent among them include the third-party inspection for quality construction, decentralisation of power, more focus on planning and the massive computerisation drive. However, the deep-rooted corruption, inefficiency of its officials, presence of mafias of all sorts be it tender-mafia, sanitation-mafia or the builders mafia is yet to be targetted. Unauthorised construction is going on unabated in close nexus with the ruling Councillors. "These would be targeted in the next round. We can not open all our fronts at the same time,'' a senior Councillor said.
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