The Hindu : NDMC shut doors, opens problems for Delhiites

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 30, 2003

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NDMC shut doors, opens problems for Delhiites

By Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI MAY 29. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) plan to make its headquarters - Palika Kendra - virtually out of bounds for the general public is doing more harm than good to the public. The idea was to minimise public entry to this "strategically located'' building by shifting collection counters from the Palika Kendra. But the NDMC authorities have failed to realise certain basic issues which are now causing immense inconvenience to the people.

In the wake of security concerns, it was in April this year that the civic body shifted its collection counters from Palika Kendra to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Place in the Gole Market area where besides property tax, power and water dues, "challans'' for purchase of tenders and money for seeking information under the Delhi Right to Information Act is being deposited.

But people are facing problems galore at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Place while depositing their dues. Besides failing in meeting the rush of the people due to insufficient number of collection counters, those who have work related to tenders or have to seek information have to run between Palika Kendra and the collection centre to deposit fees and other dues.

One major problem being faced by the people is that while the collection counters are open till 2 p.m., the employees at Palika Kendra go for lunch at 1 p.m. so for one hour a person cannot get his work done. And by the time lunch time is over, the collection counters are closed for the day.

Though there is one counter kept open at Palika Kendra, it collects only specific bills related to corrections in water and power dues. Contractors who have to come to Palika Kendra for tender-related work say that there should be at least one counter for taking dues related to tenders and for those seeking information.

``When all our work and files are to be completed from Palika Kendra, then why should we be asked to run to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Place for depositing money? At least the NDMC authorities could open one counter for this specific purpose which will bring much needed respite to people like us,'' they add.

But even after this have the security concerns been properly answered by this arrangement? No one thinks so as anybody can easily walk into Palika Kendra. While two doorframe metal detectors have been placed at the entrance of the building, the guards of private security agency deployed near them do not bother to monitor people's movement.

Notably, it was a few months ago that three outsiders had sneaked into the multistoreyed building and one of them had climbed to the top floor threatening to jump off the ledge. Police and fire personnel had to be pressed into action after which the intruder could be brought down. All this had exposed serious chinks in the Council's security preparations.

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