The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila Government bogged down by populism

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 05, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila Government bogged down by populism

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JUNE 4. When it should be going ahead with the business of good governance, populist measures meant to appease certain sections of the political establishment or some lobby that is working overtime to derail the development process have bogged down the Sheila Dikshit Government, political observers here feel.

The latest indication in this direction is the decision to suspend drive against the illegal dairies which have not only occupied government and public land but are also a public nuisance as they let their cattle loose on the city roads. The Delhi High Court had directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to take steps to close down illegal dairies and put an end to the stray cattle menace on the city roads. The MCD got down to the job of implementing the court orders in letter and spirit when it launched a crackdown on such illegal dairies and took into custody a number of stray cattle. When it appeared that Delhi would finally be rid of this menace, the Chief Minister succumbed to pressure from within her party and directed the MCD Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, to suspend the drive.

It is learnt that the Outer Delhi strongman, Sajjan Kumar, and the Finance Minister, A. K. Walia, were instrumental in putting pressure on the Chief Minister to suspend this drive, pleading that such dairies be provided alternative rehabilitation. However, officials said this was only a ploy to provide relief to the illegal dairy mafia as it is a well-known fact that no such rehabilitation was possible in Delhi or outside and the effort was aimed at derailing the drive.

A cross section of society, including a large number of party MLAs, were shocked by the decision of the Chief Minister and felt that the Delhi Government had wasted another opportunity to rid Delhi of stray cattle and such illegal dairies that have occupied parks and land in residential areas making life difficult for lakhs of residents. What was even more shocking was the direction to file a review petition in the matter knowing fully well that it could invite the wrath of the court and put the Delhi Government in a corner.

Similarly, the Delhi Government has been talking of regularising industries operating in residential areas and unauthorised colonies. It has accorded priority to providing relief in these two sectors, but has refrained from tackling issues like improving the public transport system and reducing congestion in the city. The dedicated tracks for High Capacity Bus Scheme still remains a distant dream. Meetings are being called to discuss issues like illegal dairies, but no effort is being made to punish those who have faltered on executing various infrastructure projects of the Delhi Government. "Along with regularisation of unauthorised colonies, the Delhi Government should approach the Central Government to frame a law to ensure stringent punishment to land grabbers and the builder mafia,'' a senior official remarked.

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