The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sanitation drive launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 03, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sanitation drive launched

Staff Reporter

MCD appoints 1,664 employees to ensure services

AMBITIOUS SCHEME: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit with her son and MP (East Delhi) Sandeep Dikshit during the launching of sanitation programme for the unauthorised colonies at Harsha Vihar (Seema Puri) on Sunday. - Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI: The people of Delhi can hope for a cleaner and better city in the days to come as Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday announced a steep hike in the sanitation grant to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

"The raise of the sanitation grant from Rs.76 crores to Rs.100 crores will help the civic body in carrying out sanitation and cleanliness work more efficiently," said Ms. Dikshit after launching an ambitious scheme of the MCD to provide sanitation services in 488 unauthorised colonies across the Capital.

The drive was inaugurated at two places -- Kirari in Kanjhawala block in North Delhi and Harsh Vihar in East Delhi. The MCD has already appointed 1,664 employees to ensure sanitation services in the rehabilitation colonies where the programmes have been launched.

`Annual grant increased'

Ms. Dikshit also announced a hike in annual development grant for each colony from Rs.20 lakhs to Rs.25 lakhs on the request of her party MPs Sajjan Kumar and Sandeep Dikshit who were also present at the function.

Emphasising the need for providing clean environment to the residents of unauthorised colonies also where a large number of people belonging to weaker sections of society live, Ms. Dikshit said her Government was committed to provide civic amenities to residents of the Capital. The campaign was part of a time-bound action plan of the State Government to develop Delhi into a world-class city before the Commonwealth Games in 2010, she added.

`Vested interests'

Expressing confidence that the present confusion over the use of residential areas for commercial purposes would be sorted out soon, the Chief Minister said the Union Government, the State Government and the MCD were leaving no stone unturned top resolve the issue and provide relief to affected parties. She blamed "vested interests" including politicians for creating confusion and blaming her Government for the present crisis.

Ms. Dikshit also promised that all unauthorised colonies would be soon regularised where all basic and civic amenities would be provided. She also announced that ownership rights would be given to the allottees of plots at rehabilitation colonies.

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