The Hindu : New Delhi News : Assembly okays MCD break-up

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Saturday, Dec 18, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Assembly okays MCD break-up

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, DEC. 17. In an act of one-upmanship within the ruling Congress, the Delhi Assembly today unanimously passed a Private Member's resolution moved by Bheesham Sharma seeking trifurcation of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi purportedly for providing better governance and improving efficiency in delivery of civic amenities. Interestingly, the Delhi Cabinet had deferred a decision on this issue earlier this week, claiming that it had been referred to the State Law Department.

The day also saw the Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister, Nasib Singh, being reprimanded by, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who was in the Chair, for setting a bad precedent in the House by taking mobile phone calls while the proceedings were on. "Being the Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr. Singh you should be setting precedents instead of breaking them. It is unfortunate that a person holding responsible position was indulging in such action when the Speaker, Chaudhary Prem Singh, has issued directions prohibiting use of mobile phones inside the House," Mr. Bidhuri remarked as the House sat listening in complete silence.

Meanwhile, moving the resolution, Mr. Bheesham Sharma said if the development of Delhi was to take place at the right pace, then it was essential that the Corporation be broken into smaller bodies. The civic body, Mr. Sharma said had become too big and unmanageable therefore it was the right time to effect a split. Asserting that such a promise had been made in the party manifesto for the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, Mr. Sharma said the time had come to fulfil this promise. He also cited the June 15, 2001, resolution moved by the Urban Development Minister, A.K. Walia, asking for the break up MCD as Delhi was being run in an unplanned manner resulting in growth of unauthorised colonies and illegal structures. Mr. Sharma's proposal was supported by a large number of Congress MLAs. Interestingly, the Rohtas Nagar MLA, Ram Babu Sharma, who is a strong opponent of any such move to break up the MCD was not present in the House when the resolution was passed. However, as it was a Private Member Resolution, it has no implications but the Government has tried to prove a point that the MLAs were strongly in favour of MCD split and Mr. Ram Babu Sharma hardly enjoyed any support among them.

On the other hand, the House rejected a resolution moved by Mohan Singh Bisht (BJP) seeking that the MLA Constituency Development Fund be allowed to be spent on the unauthorised colonies which have come up in private land of villages and these areas be placed in the H category for the purposes of property tax. Speaking on the resolution, Mr. Bidhuri said till such time the Government provided civic amenities in rural villages and extended Lal Dora areas, they should be exempted from payment of house tax under the new Unit Area Method.

Earlier, during Question Hour, the House witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling party and opposition members on the issue of hike in water tariffs. The opposition also staged a symbolic walkout on the issue and two of its members, Ramesh Bidhuri and Kulwant Rana, were expelled from the House for trying to disrupt the proceedings and disobeying the directions of the Chair.

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