Plethora of authorities in Delhi is frustrating: Sheila

Observing that multiplicity of authorities in Delhi at times becomes "frustrating", chief minister Sheila Dikshit has said the Centre should transfer control of land and some aspects of policing to the city government to enable it to perform better.
     
Dikshit, who has been making representations to the Centre, said Delhi government's hands are tied as it does not have control over use of land as also police, which come directly under the Central government.
     
"It is a bit of a funny situation. Delhi has a plethora of authorities. The Urban Development Ministry is there. The Lt-Governor is there, the MCD is there, the elected assembly is there," she said.
   
"Land is not with us. Building guidelines are not with us. These are with the DDA, the MCD and the NDMC (which are under control of the Centre)," she said while listing the problems faced by the Delhi Government in implementing any project.
      
Dikshit, who is heading the Delhi Government for the third consecutive term, pointed out that nowhere in the country a municipality is under the Central Government.
      
"Here it comes under the Ministry of Home affairs. So we are only a bank for them, which gives the money and there is no accountability for it," she said.
      
Asked whether it was frustrating for her to work under such circumstances, she said, "Yes, it is frustrating to the extent that it does not lead to giving up or anger. We have to do it. Of course it ties our hands, but we explain to the people and the people understand."

Dikshit has been seeking control over land and certain aspects of policing, like traffic and law and order, as she feels that it will enable the city government to do what it wants without running from pillar to post.
     
Noting that Delhi Government was the only elected face of the capital, the chief minister underlined the necessity of land and police being brought under the city government like other state governments have.
     
"Everytime you want land for a school or a hospital or a community centre or anything to do with... We have to run there (the Centre), get the land and so on. So, it has become very cumbersome for us," Dikshit said.
     
"The only authority which knows of the requirement is us, therefore we feel that DDA should be with us," she said, adding that even if it is not under the Delhi Government, the chief minister should have a role with regard to DDA's functioning.
     
She complained that the plans with regard to housing and related issues are not made by the Delhi government "because we are not represented. The DDA is not with us. The DDA as an institution lives in complete isolation and not in touch with the people".
    
Dikshit said the Delhi Government has approached the Centre many times with proposals. "We pushed it and we push it... There is a reluctance, I wouldn't say that they are not moving but certainly there is a reluctance. For whatever reasons," she said.

Asked on whose part she felt there was the reluctance, Dikshit said, "I don't know really, I really don't know," adding, "Actually, they are beginning to understand".
      
When asked why the Centre was not listening to her considering that her own Congress party is in power at national level, she said, "That has got nothing to do with it... I don't want to blame anybody, it is just that you need to take a stand."
      
The chief minister underlined that everybody's interest is in Delhi because it is the country's capital. "So we cannot blame anybody whether it is this party or that party".
      
She further said, "Perhaps sitting up there at the Centre, you may be looking at things very differently from what we think. So that coordination definitely is still not there."
    
Asked it there was a midway, she said, "...we have sent proposals for that. We have given suggestions. "We work even now only through goodwill," she said.