The Hindu : New Delhi News : Meeting on development turns into Centre-bashing session

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 08, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Meeting on development turns into Centre-bashing session

Staff Reporter

DDA has failed to fulfil its commitments to people: Narendra Nath

NEW DELHI: A meeting convened to set in motion the process for framing of City Development Plan (CDP) to secure funds under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) turned into a Central Government bashing session on Friday with MLAs accusing the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) of total failure to perform and seeking more powers and full Statehood for Delhi to fulfil its commitments to the people.

The former Minister and Chairman of Trans-Yamuna Development Board, Narendra Nath, accused the DDA of having failed to live up to the expectations of the people and demanded that it should be brought under the Delhi Government without any delay. Supporting his point of view, Kiran Walia demanded that Delhi be granted full Statehood so that JNNURM could be implemented effectively. The Congress Chief whip and MLA from Patel Nagar, Ramakant Goswami, said a mechanism should be put in place to end the incidence of multiplicity of authority that had made things worse in the Capital. The Outer Delhi MP, Sajjan Kumar, who wanted more powers to be given to the Delhi Government, ably supported them. Other loyalist MLAs including Vir Singh Dhingan, Ramesh Lamba, Blaram Singh Tanwar and Rajesh Lilothia also supported the demand for full Statehood and more powers to Delhi in order to end the Central interference in small matters.

For her part, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit declared that a CDP for Delhi under JNNURM would be finalised and sent to the Union Urban Development Ministry soon. The Delhi Government had come in for flak from the Planning Commission for its failure to submit projects under the scheme despite eight months having gone since the scheme was launched.

Ms. Dikshit instructed the departments concerned to finalise the CDP at the earliest to enable the Delhi Government to avail of the benefits under the JNNURM that has a total fund corpus of Rs. 1 lakh crores. Ms. Dikshit said while finalising the plans, everybody concerned should keep in mind the multiplicity of authority, National Capital Region concept, in situ resettlement of poor families and development of villages. She also stressed the need for having common facilities of waste management, dumping of hazardous waste, transportation requirements and availability of water and power for NCR States while giving final touches to the plan. The focus of the CDP would be development of Delhi as the most liveable city. The Public Works Department, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Delhi Jal Board, Delhi State Industrial Development Corporation (DSIDC), Slum and JJ Department and DDA have already submitted proposals amounting to Rs.10,936 crores.

Among those present at the meeting, the general consensus was that more power should be given to the Delhi Government and its elected representatives. Mr. Sajjan Kumar called for setting up of Slum Development Board and Delhi Housing Development Board.

The East Delhi MP, Sandeep Dikshit, raised the demand of bringing the subject of land under the Delhi Government. He said habitation for the poor should be first priority of the CDP.

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