The Times of India 14.09.2009
Centre moves to put MCD under Delhi govt
NEW DELHI: With Commonwealth Games 2010 fast approaching, the Centre has moved to reduce multiplicity of authorities in the city and bring the Municipal Corporation of Delhi under the control of the Delhi government. Once the opinion of the Delhi government on the move is received, a notification will be issued to make the transition formal.
With Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit having been an ardent proponent of not only bringing MCD under the city government, but also of trifurcation of the corporation, a positive response can be anticipated. The CM has often pointed to multiple authorities - mostly referring to MCD and DDA - to argue that her powers to address land and civic issues were limited.
If MCD is brought under Delhi government, the latter will have a leverage in the substantial budget - it was Rs 5,100 crore in the last financial year - that is allocated to the corporation. A say in notifying appointments, which are now done through the Lt Governor's office, will also give the government added clout.
The move to bring the civic body under Delhi government is bound to spark protests in the BJP-controlled corporation. Though unsaid, the politics of the move are fairly clear. Acting on the long-pending demand, the Union home ministry on Saturday sent a proposal to this effect to Delhi government seeking its final views.
Union home secretary G K Pillai told TOI: ``The ministry will issue the notification as soon as it gets Delhi government's comment. Once the notification is issued, the MCD will start functioning under the Delhi government.'' He also made it clear that the change would not require any amendment in the existing Act.
The MCD is the largest of three civic bodies in the capital. The other two are New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB), both much smaller in terms of the areas they govern.
Explaining technicalities, officials in the ministry said that the move would make MCD's functioning more efficient as appointments, including that of the municipal commissioner, instead of being routed through the Lieutenant Governor, will now be issued by Delhi government.
Delhi government will discuss the issue at a cabinet meeting chaired by Dikshit on Monday. It is believed that the cabinet, besides discussing the implications of the home ministry's decision, will also take a view on its other long-pending demands, including control over DDA.
MCD, an elected body, does not enjoy much power due to Delhi being a union territory and comes under the Union home ministry, But its standing committee has a vital role in implementing projects within its jurisdiction and appointments of officers in various municipal zones.
The Congress, which has been accusing the civic body of inefficiency and also for being unresponsive to the civic needs of the city, is expected to term the home ministry's decision as a victory for the Dikshit government.
Sources in the home ministry said that the need to prepare the city for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in October 2010 acted as a trigger to take the decision at this juncture.
Before sending its note to Delhi government, the officials also took note of various recommendations of the two committees - one led by Ashok Pradhan and the other by Omesh Saigal ^ both of whom submitted their reports on functioning and jurisdiction of the civic body in November, 2006.
While the Pradhan committee recommended various steps to remove multiplicity of authorities in Delhi, the Saigal panel looked into ways of restructuring MCD. The cue to bring MCD under Delhi government was taken from the Pradhan Committee which also suggested that the civic body should confine its functioning to core activities and cede functions relating to hospitals and schools to the Delhi government.
The other recommendations of the Pradhan Committee include:
* MCD commissioner be appointed by the Delhi government instead of the Centre;
* A separate department of local self-government be set up in Delhi government to coordinate the affairs of local bodies;
* Geographical boundaries of MCD, DDA, police and revenue districts be co-terminus;
* The offices of revenue districts be strengthened and the district deputy commissioner be able to exercise control over all functionaries of revenue administration, field agencies of different government departments, district/zonal level functionaries of Delhi Jal Board, transport, DDA and even MCD.
With Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit having been an ardent proponent of not only bringing MCD under the city government, but also of trifurcation of the corporation, a positive response can be anticipated. The CM has often pointed to multiple authorities - mostly referring to MCD and DDA - to argue that her powers to address land and civic issues were limited.
If MCD is brought under Delhi government, the latter will have a leverage in the substantial budget - it was Rs 5,100 crore in the last financial year - that is allocated to the corporation. A say in notifying appointments, which are now done through the Lt Governor's office, will also give the government added clout.
The move to bring the civic body under Delhi government is bound to spark protests in the BJP-controlled corporation. Though unsaid, the politics of the move are fairly clear. Acting on the long-pending demand, the Union home ministry on Saturday sent a proposal to this effect to Delhi government seeking its final views.
Union home secretary G K Pillai told TOI: ``The ministry will issue the notification as soon as it gets Delhi government's comment. Once the notification is issued, the MCD will start functioning under the Delhi government.'' He also made it clear that the change would not require any amendment in the existing Act.
The MCD is the largest of three civic bodies in the capital. The other two are New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB), both much smaller in terms of the areas they govern.
Explaining technicalities, officials in the ministry said that the move would make MCD's functioning more efficient as appointments, including that of the municipal commissioner, instead of being routed through the Lieutenant Governor, will now be issued by Delhi government.
Delhi government will discuss the issue at a cabinet meeting chaired by Dikshit on Monday. It is believed that the cabinet, besides discussing the implications of the home ministry's decision, will also take a view on its other long-pending demands, including control over DDA.
MCD, an elected body, does not enjoy much power due to Delhi being a union territory and comes under the Union home ministry, But its standing committee has a vital role in implementing projects within its jurisdiction and appointments of officers in various municipal zones.
The Congress, which has been accusing the civic body of inefficiency and also for being unresponsive to the civic needs of the city, is expected to term the home ministry's decision as a victory for the Dikshit government.
Sources in the home ministry said that the need to prepare the city for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in October 2010 acted as a trigger to take the decision at this juncture.
Before sending its note to Delhi government, the officials also took note of various recommendations of the two committees - one led by Ashok Pradhan and the other by Omesh Saigal ^ both of whom submitted their reports on functioning and jurisdiction of the civic body in November, 2006.
While the Pradhan committee recommended various steps to remove multiplicity of authorities in Delhi, the Saigal panel looked into ways of restructuring MCD. The cue to bring MCD under Delhi government was taken from the Pradhan Committee which also suggested that the civic body should confine its functioning to core activities and cede functions relating to hospitals and schools to the Delhi government.
The other recommendations of the Pradhan Committee include:
* MCD commissioner be appointed by the Delhi government instead of the Centre;
* A separate department of local self-government be set up in Delhi government to coordinate the affairs of local bodies;
* Geographical boundaries of MCD, DDA, police and revenue districts be co-terminus;
* The offices of revenue districts be strengthened and the district deputy commissioner be able to exercise control over all functionaries of revenue administration, field agencies of different government departments, district/zonal level functionaries of Delhi Jal Board, transport, DDA and even MCD.
