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NDMC fails to meet computerisation deadline

By Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI MARCH 10. At a time when every other organisation is trying hard to go that extra mile in the information technology race, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) seems least bothered about going hi-tech. Even as the deadline of March 31, 2003, for completion of the computerisation process nears, the NDMC has so far managed to meet only 50 per cent of the target.

Of the 20 departments and facilities that were to be computerised and made on-line, only 50 per cent of work has been completed. Interestingly, some departments are yet to have a feel of this entire exercise for modernisation of the civic body. Even the IVRS (interactive voice recording system) facility meant for filing complaints was launched without finding solutions to various loopholes in it.

It was in March 31, 2001, that the NDMC had awarded the Rs.2-crore contract to the CMC Limited, then a government firm which was subsequently disinvested, for computerisation of all departments within the next two years. Now it is almost two years and only around 50 per cent of the target had been achieved. The CMC Limited was disinvested on March 30, 2001, and the tender was awarded to it on the very next day.

``Now the progress of computerisation project in the Council is being measured by the number of meetings that take place between the officials of NDMC's IT Department and CMC. The past few weeks had seen over half-a-dozen meetings but no concrete work,'' said an official, adding the fact was that it were just a few departments like Commercial, Estate and Architecture besides library and death/birth registration facility where some work had been done.

Another important feature in this entire episode is the lack of commitment shown by other departments. "There are departments which are not very forthcoming when it comes to providing information and other details meant for computerisation process. They are least interested in the exercise which is one of the key reasons for the delay,'' said the official, adding that unless officers and employees show some interest, computerisation target could not be met.

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