The Hindu : New Delhi News : Three-way split of MCD in the offing

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Three-way split of MCD in the offing

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 13 . The Delhi Cabinet today deliberated at length on the issue of trifurcation of Municipal Corporation of Delhi, a promise made in the manifesto of the Congress party during the last elections. It is understood that the Cabinet agreed in principle to split the Corporation into three smaller bodies -- East Delhi, North Delhi and South Delhi -- but decided to wait for a final word from the State Law Department before putting its seal of approval.

At the meeting of the Cabinet held under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, approval was also granted for introduction of the Delhi Cooperative Bill, 2003, during the winter session of the Assembly. Although the Congress Councillors have opposed the split and have even petitioned the party high command against any such move, the Sheila Dikshit Government has moved in to fulfil the commitment made to the people at the time of Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. "We will need to bring in a new legislation for this purpose. This is the reason the matter has been referred to the Law Department. We will only move ahead after a nod from the Law Department in the next few days,'' the Chief Minister informed.

Under the proposed new system, the Corporation would be split into three parts. It would be re-christened as the East Delhi Corporation consisting of Shahdara North and Shahdara South areas, the North Delhi Corporation consisting of the entire Walled City, Civil Lines, Narela, Karol Bagh, City and Rohini Zones, and the South Delhi Corporation comprising Central, West, South and Najafgarh Zones.

According to the proposal, each Corporation will have two additional commissioners and the senior most would be the commissioner of that Corporation. Instead of one Standing Committee, there will be three Standing Committees giving enough opportunity for representation to all sections of Councillors. While the East Delhi Corporation would have eight members in its Standing Committee, North Delhi Corporation will have 12 and South Delhi 10.

Covering 735 sq. km and with 57.6-lakh population, the South Delhi Corporation with 54 Wards would be the largest among the three new civic bodies. Spread over 525 sq. km, the North Delhi Corporation would have 48 Wards and cover a population of 52.5 lakhs. The East Delhi Corporation, catering to civic needs of 32.2 lakh population, will be spread over 135 sq. km and will have 32 Wards. The proposal states that all the roads above 80 feet should be transferred to the Public Works Department, and all the six major hospitals of the MCD should be taken over by the Delhi Government.

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