Sheila Dikshit who has been pushing hard to split the MCD into five smaller bodies, said the sluggish and confusing decisions of the ruling BJP in the civic body have often led to harassment of citizens.
Showing her strong resolve to go ahead with proposed split of MCD, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today accused the BJP-ruled civic body of "total failure" in delivering basic services and said her government was determined to bring reforms in it by dividing it into smaller bodies.
"The MCD administration has become totally ineffective. I think with the present set up, it has become really difficult to manage and above all the ruling party has been nurturing the politics of convenience and opportunism. So it makes a fit case to restructure the MCD," Dikshit said addressing a function at Tri Nagar in West Delhi.
The Chief Minister, who has been pushing hard to split the MCD into five smaller bodies, said the "sluggish and confusing" decisions of the ruling BJP in the civic body have often led to "harassment" of the citizens and it was high time to bring reform in the civic body which has jurisdiction over 97 per cent area in the city.
"The decisions of the MCD have been sluggish as well as confusing and contradictory resulting in harassment to people. The issue of over 30,000 ghost employees in MCD is a crystal clear case of total failure in the administration. Even the High Court has taken note of this matter. The public opinion is in favour of bringing substantial improvements in the MCD functioning," she said.
The Delhi government counsel recently told the High Court that the MCD caused a loss of Rs500 crore in five years by paying salaries to "ghost employees" (non-existing staff), a charge denied by BJP leaders in the corporation.
"The final decision on splitting the MCD has almost been taken," Dikshit later told reporters. The politically-sensitive move to split the MCD has been criticised by a section of the Congress party, including DPCC chief J P Aggarwal who felt dividing the civic body just ahead of next year's polls will severely affect the party.
The Delhi Cabinet had accepted the recommendations of a high-level committee, headed by Health Minister A K Walia, which suggested splitting the MCD into five smaller municipalities.
Dikshit was even attacked by several Congress MLAs and councillors at a DPCC meeting last month who questioned her style of functioning as they said the issue of brining reform in the MCD was never discussed in the party forum.
In her speech today, Dikshit virtually started the campaigning for MCD polls, asking people to vote for Congress.
She highlighted various achievements of her three successive governments, saying the city has witnessed excellent development during last 12 years which is being recognised "by one and all".
"Our effort to make Delhi the best capital city in the world should not be hampered due to any political differences," Dikshit said, apparently seeking support of all quarters in bringing reforms in the MCD. The BJP has also been attacking the government for the move.
The function was organised to welcome AICC general secretary Birender Singh as in-charge of Delhi. Talking about the transport sector, Dikshit said the work on third Phase of Delhi Metro expansion will start within next few weeks. "With completion of this phase the colonies in Delhi will become closer to each other."
About the education sector, she said, "our government has created 14,000 new posts of teachers to ensure proper implementation of Right to Education Act in the capital city. This will also go a long way in enhancing job opportunities.
"A number of new universities have been commissioned. A separate women's technical university is to be commissioned soon," she said.
Dikshit said her government was going to implement a new scheme as pilot project under which vulnerable sections of the society will be provided cash assistance in place of ration under public distribution system.
Talking about the power sector, she said work on 750 MW Bamnauli Power Project will commence soon whereas power generation from 1,500 MW Bawana plant has already been started.
She also highlighted the 'Bhagidari' initiative of her government and said it has brought the common man to share his views in implementation of various government schemes. Bhagidari initiative was launched in 2003 to associate the citizens with implementation of various government schemes.
Birender Singh appreciated the efforts of Dikshit in making Delhi a well-developed city. Singh stated that the party in Delhi is strong enough to defeat the "forces of communalism and hatred." He described Delhi as a "shining example" of a people-friendly city.
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