House panel to study MCD splitting

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 15.

The Delhi Assembly today passed a resolution to constitute a seven-member House Committee to study in depth the recommendations and suggestions of the Virender Prakash Committee to facilitate drafting of a detailed and appropriate legislation in this regard by the Central Government.

The resolution, tabled by the Urban Development Minister, Dr. A.K. Walia, said: ``This House records its grave concern over the appalling state of municipal services in the areas of Delhi under the care of MCD. It takes notice of the universal dissatisfaction of the people of the Capital arising out of the frustrating unresponsiveness of the municipal authorities inefficiency and unaccountability, widespread corruption and wastage. The House expresses its resolve to spare no effort whatsoever to set matters right by empowering citizens to receive civic services befitting a world class city that the Capital has always been.''

It said further: ``In order to achieve this indisputable objective, this House recommends that the existing unwieldy and unmanageable MCD be replaced by smaller, lean and dynamic municipal bodies, having more effective say of elected representatives than at present and working efficiently through duly empowered Ward Committees in keeping with the letter and spirit of the visionary concept of the late Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi. This House constitutes a seven-member Committee of the House to study in depth the recommendations and suggestions contained in the report of Virendra Prakash Committee on the review of working and structure of the MCD in order to finalise the detailed recommendations to be forwarded to the Union Government with request for appropriate Parliamentary legislation."

Initiating the debate, the Kalkaji MLA, Mr. Subhash Chopra, said the party and the government were united on the stand to split the MCD and nobody should have any illusions on this account. Congratulating the Chief Minister, Ms.Sheila Dikshit, and her Cabinet colleagues for taking this step to rid of the corrupt MCD, Mr. Chopra appealed to all parties to rise above petty differences and think about the betterment of Delhiiites.

He stated categorically that the Congress(I) was of the firm view that elections to the MCD should be held on schedule. Stating that the situation in the MCD had deteriorated ever since the BJP came to power over four years ago, he said the city generates 6,000 metric tonnes of garbage every day and while only 4,000 tonnes is lifted. The rest is left on city roads. Similarly the Midday Meal scheme was in a shambles and wondered where the Rs. 30 crore earmarked for this scheme disappeared. Mr. Chopra said the MCD had collected Rs. 70 crores for regularisation of unauthorised constructions but instead they started demolishing these structures and till date the money has not been returned to those who had deposited it.

Mr. Bhisham Sharma said the splitting of MCD was in the interest of the people and complimented the Chief Minister for taking such a bold step. He said the BJP was in the habit of fooling people. They had fooled the people on the Ram Temple issue. He said the need for the special session was felt as the Delhi Government was concerned about the welfare of the people. He also declared the government would not hesitate to hold a long Monsoon session.

Supporting the resolution, Mr.Mahabal Mishra, said that he was thankful that he was not longer in the MCD. There is virtually no say of the elected representatives and only those issues are taken up which are liked by the MCD Commissioner. The House or the elected people had no say. He said almost 79 per cent of the funds were spent to pay the salaries of the employees and no worthwhile developmental work could be expected. The situation was pathetic in the Corporation as work for desilting had been completed in only 400 out of the 1,276 drains, deadline which expired today. He demanded that the Delhi government be given power by the Union Home Ministry to re-structure the MCD.

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