Trifurcation: Some lessons from Delhi

The Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government’s ambitious decision to trifurcate the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), ostensibly to strengthen governance in the national capital, has failed to solve the purpose even a year and half later. Even a cursory assessment of the functioning of the three new corporations will find that more civic agencies have been added to the already existing multiple agencies in Delhi. After functioning as a unified civic agency in the capital for over 50 years, the MCD was trifurcated into North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations in April 2012.

The Congress government had recommended the trifurcation, arguing that decentralisation of power would result in better delivery of civic amenities. It had also contended that this would bring the corporations to the doorsteps of people. The opposition and then-ruling party in the MCD, the BJP, had opposed the move alleging that it was a politically motivated decision. The Union government, however, amended the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1958, paving the way for trifurcation.

 Elections to the new civic bodies were held in April last year, and the BJP captured all three of them. The new corporations started functioning on May 1, 2012 as independent authorities. However, post-trifurcation everything has apparently gone wrong. One of major problems faced by all three has been shortage of staff.

A chief town planner (CTP) is working in three corporations. One of the seniormost councillors of Delhi, Subhash Arya, rued that even a year and half down the line, the three corporations have a single chief town planner.

The trifurcation has also resulted in additional expenditure. This was done by creating three sets of all departments, including posts of mayor and commissioner. Standing committees and other ad hoc committees too were created, resulting in spiking up the establishment cost three-fold. And this, when the MCD was facing a financial crunch.

Despite tall claims, the condition of civic amenities has not improved. The performance of the three corporations has been under the scanner since several projects have failed to see the light of the day.