The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sheila forms panel on streetlights' upkeep

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Friday, Jan 21, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sheila forms panel on streetlights' upkeep

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, JAN. 20. Following differences of opinion, the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, today set up a Cabinet Committee on maintenance and upkeep of all the streetlights in the Capital by the private discoms.

The decision in this regard was taken by Ms. Dikshit at the Cabinet meeting here.

To be headed by the Delhi Finance Minister, A.K. Walia, the Committee has been asked to undertake a clause-by-clause study of draft memorandum of understanding pertaining to operations and maintenance of streetlights to be signed between the discoms and various streetlight-owning Government agencies.

The Delhi Power Minister, Haroon Yusuf, and the Delhi Industry Minister, Mangat Ram Singh, are the other two members of the Committee, which has been asked to submit its report by early next week. The report would be placed before the Cabinet at its next meeting so as to take a final view and approve the MoU to be signed in this regard.

As part of the Commonwealth Games preparation, Ms. Dikshit is keen to upgrade the entire streetlighting system to the international level, said officials in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, which owns three-fourths of the nearly four lakhs streetlight points of the Capital.

With the civic body unable to make the necessary investment required for the public lighting system, the Delhi Government is expected to fund the capital expenditure, while the MCD would make payments to the discoms for annual maintenance and operations.

It is understood that several of the Cabinet Ministers expressed reservations on the various provisions mentioned in the proposed MoU including its financial implications on the Government.

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