The Hindu        30.11.2011

MCD trifurcation Bill comes to Assembly

Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2011 to be moved in House today

The way Delhi is governed is all set to change with the Delhi Government about to move the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill-2011 in the State Assembly on Wednesday. The Bill seeks to trifurcate the civic body purportedly to create more manageable entities and ensure better administration.

While Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has already termed the Centre's nod for the proposal and the subsequent approval of the Delhi Cabinet a “historic step”, the main Opposition party, the BJP, has expressed strong reservations over the move and believes it is politically motivated.

However, the criticism from BJP, which had itself been proposing in its election manifestos the need to divide the MCD, has left people confused. Some of its own party leaders have praised the move saying it would provide much-needed relief to the Capital's residents.

While the nitty-gritty of the split are being worked out by the committee set up under former IAS officer K. Dharamarajan, broad outlines have been drawn.

There will be three Corporations – North, South (both with 104 wards each) and East (with 64 wards). The three Corporations would have a Mayor and a chairperson of the Standing Committees each.

While the East Corporation would cater to the entire trans-Yamuna area, the other two would split Delhi into northern and southern parts.

As per the Bill, the new corporations would work under a Director of Municipal Corporation who would be a senior official and ensure equitable distribution of funds and human resources to all the three entities.

The need for splitting the MCD had long been felt due to the rapid growth that Delhi has seen. The civic body covers about 97 per cent of Delhi's geographical area and caters to about 1.60 crore people.

The division, as per the Government, would lead to division of work at all levels and ensure prompt clearance of proposals. Further, it would also reduce physical distances for people by bringing the new corporations and their offices closer to them.

Quota for women

Ms. Dikshit had earlier stated that if the Bill is not passed on the first day (Wednesday) then it would be passed following a discussion on the second day (Thursday). Thereafter, the Bill would be would be sent to the President for her consent.

Since the amendment Bill also proposes 50 % seats for women, the question uppermost on the minds of many of the sitting councillors is how would these seats be determined. “Would they be even or odd, or will some random criteria be adopted?”