The Hindu : New Delhi News : MCD trifurcation demanded

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 06, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

MCD trifurcation demanded

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, OCT. 5. Demanding immediate trifurcation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Municipal Councillor, Ajit Singh, who also heads the Corporation's Appointment Committee, today said Delhi should adopt the West Bengal model of Mayor-in-Council in the divided civic body.

"We need to trifurcate the MCD to ensure good civic amenities to the people of the Capital. The day-to-day civic services of the Capital, where the population has crossed 1.5 crore, are not being fully met by the MCD due to its vast size and due to over growing demands from the residents," he asserted.

According to Mr. Singh, the existing system prevailing in the MCD was the Mumbai model with its distinctive features being the statutory distribution of power between the three coordinating authorities -- the Corporation, the Standing Committee and the Commissioner. The system was based on separation of executive powers and functions from the preview of the elected representatives.

"This system has led to dichotomy and gives rise to discretion, frictions and deadlocks. This system is seen as defective and outdated in present scenario. There is no role of people's representatives in framing schemes or drafting policies. In fact, it is the coterie of a few political bosses and the Commissioner which are decision-making authority and the democratic system is only for the name-sake," he alleged.

Claiming that more Councillors, particularly from East Delhi, were with him in the movement, Mr. Singh said the number of elected representatives in the new arrangement should remain same. It was only after the trifurcation of the civic body policies could be framed as per the requirements of local population and needs of respective civic zones, he added.

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